As winter settles in, the garden growth has naturally slowed to a very gentle rhythm.

The air is crisp and most of the branches are bare. But, even though growth has paused, there is still lots to do in the garden!

Now is the time for gentle maintenance, such as clearing away fallen leaves, which can be a slip hazard at this time of year.

You can also trim back dead stems and debris to prevent harbouring slugs and snails.

Other jobs include winter digging – this means turning the ground over several times (if the soil is workable), exposing soil pests hidden beneath the surface for the birds to remove.

Plan and begin your landscaping jobs, too.

You can send off for seed catalogues, and take hard-wood cuttings from plants like roses, for example.

Roses grown from cuttings do not produce suckers, so this is an advantage over roses bought in a garden centre.

Harvest any vegetables, like carrots, parsnips, or turnips, that you might still have in the ground. Add well-rotted compost or leaf mould to cleared vegetable beds, so they are ready for next year.

December in Ireland often brings short daylight hours, chilly mornings, occasional frosts, and wetter soils, which means the garden has to begin its quieter phase. Enjoy it while it lasts!

Looking for that perfect, real Christmas Wreath? We have been busy making them in our garden! They are now for sale in our shop at Rothe House, so pop in and pick one up.