Santa's Winter Garden List | 5 To-Do's for December's Garden

Alyce Peterson
Nov 26, 2025
2 min read

It's December and most likely you are knee deep in a holiday-to-do list! Even though it is cold outside, don't neglect your garden. With a little effort and planning in December, your garden will emerge from winter flourishing!

1. Protect Tender Plants from Cold Snaps

Even in Lodi’s mild winters, December can surprise us with a frost or two.I’d make sure my frost cloths or old sheets are nearby and ready. Citrus, succulents, young perennials, and anything newly planted get the first priority.Mulch 2–3 inches around roots to stabilize soil temps and conserve moisture.

2. Keep Winter Bloomers Happy

December is when my winter stars really shine—camellias, pansies, violas, snapdragons, cyclamen, ornamental kale and the cool-season herbs.Pinch off spent blooms to keep color going, and water lightly but consistently (dry spells still happen in winter!).

This is also a great time to plant more winter annuals if I’m missing a pop of color.

3. Start Cool-Season Crops

If you have a veggie section, December is perfect for sowing:

Lettuce
Spinach
Arugula
Radishes
Peas
Carrots

I’d also tuck in some garlic and onions if I haven’t already—Zone 9 gives them plenty of time to size up.

4. Prune Thoughtfully (But Not Everything Yet!)

This is a month for selective pruning.I’d remove:

Crossing or broken branches
Dead or diseased wood
Suckers and water sprouts

But I’d hold off on major pruning of roses, stone fruit, and citrus until late January or February. This is more of a “tidy up” month, not the big haircut.