What to do in the garden in December?

Take advantage of December to think about your garden. Drawing on last year's experience, draw up plans for your flowerbeds and vegetable plots, consider the varieties you want to try, place your seed orders, and more. Continue planting your fruit and berry trees. In the vegetable garden, protect existing crops from the harsh cold with special fleeces or with leaves or straw. Don't forget to work your soil, if the weather permits. In the vegetable garden Digging and working the soil of the beds that are freed up, Protection of root vegetables left in place with leaves or straw, Elimination of vegetable garden waste (undecomposed remains of tomatoes and potatoes, vectors of mildew), Possible planting of a small hedge around the vegetable garden, Harvest: cabbage, spinach, lettuce to cut, lamb's lettuce, parsnips, leeks, Protection of sensitive plants with a winter fleece in case of forecast of severe cold, and mulching of leeks, Monitoring of vegetables in storage: elimination of damaged individuals and regular ventilation of the premises, Cleaning of tools, Anticipate orders for seeds and tubers (earth pear, Jerusalem artichoke, crosnes) to be placed. Ornamental garden Digging of the beds freed up and Adding compost, Pruning trees if necessary, Planting shrubs and trees while the ground is not frozen, Cleaning trees (dead wood and moss), Protecting semi-hardy perennials in case of severe frost, Protecting earthenware pots, which are sensitive to frost, Checking the attachments on young trees, Cleaning ponds and basins. Orchard Planting fruit trees outside of frost periods Whitewashing trunks, Pruning pome trees and small fruit shrubs before frost, Removing mistletoe, cutting the supporting branch if possible.