December in the wildlife-friendly garden

Those people with amazing memories (that's me out, then!) will remember from my last monthly round-up that November isn't my favourite month in the garden. I've had several people voice their empathy with that.

Fortunately, I'm far more sanguine about December. Barely do we seem to have we entered winter than we soon reach the shortest day and the evenings begin - albeit very slowly - to get lighter again. In fact, due to the funny rotation of the earth, the earliest sunset is about 12 December - isn't that good to know?!

Of course, it doesn't mean that winter has run its course, with the risk of snows and frosts continuing to grow into January, but you do get the sense that nature knows the corner is turning. Those little pointy shoots of bulbs piercing the soil's surface, the bursts of birdsong on still, sunny days (where would I be without my Robins to cheer me up?!) - yes, we're heading in the right direction.

I imagine that for many of you, your main garden activity at this time of year is visiting your bird feeders to stock them up, time and again. Good on you! Don't forget to keep those birdbaths clear or ice and topped with fresh water, too. If you have a veg patch and you're not on heavy clay, you may still be doing some digging.

Into the trees

But the other big job for many of you at this time of year will be dealing with trees. Whether it be planting or pruning, now is the time to act while they are dormant (in the case of deciduous trees) or dozing (in the case of evergreens). There are a few types to avoid cutting now, the key ones being those in the cherry family which are prone to disease if you damage them in winter, but for the rest this is the time to get them into shape without the trees feeling too miffed about it.

The added benefit is that, with the leaves off so many trees, you can see the bare bones of the garden, allowing you to get in there and do the work and judge your progress.

I've got about 50 neglected fruit trees that I'm trying to nurse back to some kind of health. I'm doing it over several years, for if I went in too hard, the trees would just throw up loads of useless whippy growth. So it's a case of slow but sure, with a good, curved lopping saw and the kind of wonderful extending loppers you can get these days meaning you can cut from the ground rather than doing acrobatics on a ladder.

At times as I restore the overgrown garden I've taken on, it has needed some adventurous activity...

...but when it comes to the really high stuff, then it is straight over to the professionals. I have a very reliable and competent tree surgeon called Phil (below, in my garden last winter) to do the circus-tricks side of things, chainsaw swinging at his side.

The key when pruning fruit trees is to start with the three Ds - dead, diseased and damaged. Once that is done, stand back and think how you can create an open goblet shape that allows air to circulate. That way you'll get lots of luscious fruit on a healthy tree that the wildlife will adore as much as you.