December’s here, the silly season is in full swing, and your garden is probably already looking a bit crispy around the edges. Don’t panic – even though you’ve missed the ideal prep window, there’s still plenty you can do to help your garden survive (and even thrive) through summer.
Let’s be honest though – December gardening is tough. The soil’s already getting hard, it’s too hot to work in the middle of the day, and everything needs water constantly. But with some smart material choices and a bit of strategic thinking, you can still turn things around.
Gardens are surprisingly forgiving. Get the basics right (mulch, water, shade) and most plants will pull through. They might not win any beauty contests this summer, but they’ll survive and bounce back in autumn.
What Your Garden’s Dealing With Right Now
December in Southern Tasmania is when things get real. We’re talking 15-hour days of sunshine, temperatures that regularly hit 30 degrees (and sometimes higher), and that lovely combination of hot northerly winds that suck moisture out of everything they touch.
Your plants are basically running a marathon in a sauna. When it gets above 30 degrees, they can’t photosynthesize properly – it’s like trying to work while having heat stroke. They’re losing water faster than they can take it up, even when there’s water available. No wonder they look stressed!
The soil situation isn’t much better. In full sun, your soil surface can hit 45 degrees by 2pm. At that temperature, the beneficial microbes that keep soil healthy start dying off, and your plants’ roots literally start cooking. Not ideal.
Choosing Emergency Mulch (Because You Need It Now)
If you haven’t mulched yet, this is your absolute top priority. But December mulching needs to be done smart – you can’t just chuck down whatever’s cheapest and hope for the best.
Mulching Vegetable Gardens
For veggie gardens and anything you’re actively growing, you need Pine Bark Mulch from DecorEarth’s bagged products range (https://decorearth.com.au/product-category/products/bagged-products/) or for large veggie gardens where bagged quantities aren’t enough bring a trailer or have it delivered.
Why pine bark? It’s light enough to spread easily even when you’re sweating buckets, but heavy enough not to blow away in those December winds. Spread it thick – at least 7cm, preferably 10cm. Yes, that seems like a lot, but thin mulch is basically useless in December heat.
Mulching Garden Beds & Permanent Plantings
For permanent plantings – your established shrubs and trees – go for the heavier hardwood chips from DecorEarth’s bark and mulch range (https://decorearth.com.au/product-category/products/barks-mulches/). These chunkier pieces last longer and provide better insulation. Plus, they look more natural around established plants.
Weed Control
And here’s a December game-changer: if you’ve got areas where you’re just trying to stop weeds and conserve moisture (like around the house foundations or under windows), forget organic mulch altogether. Get some decorative stones (https://decorearth.com.au/product-category/products/decorative/) and be done with it. No decomposition, no replacement, no water needed. The 20mm Limestone (https://decorearth.com.au/product/limestone-20mm-2/) is perfect because its light colour doesn’t absorb heat like darker stones.
December Mulching Reality Check: Water deeply BEFORE you mulch. Mulch keeps moisture in, but it doesn’t create moisture. If you mulch over dry soil, you’ve just insulated a desert.
Smart Stone Features That Actually Help
Everyone thinks of decorative stones as just that – decorative. But in December, they’re functional garden savers if you use them right.
Here’s what works: light-coloured stones around heat-sensitive plants. I know it might look a bit different to what you’re used to, but those white or cream pebbles can drop the temperature around your plants by several degrees. It’s like giving them their own personal shade cloth, but at ground level where the heat is worst.
Try creating a kidney-shaped area of white stones on the western side of plants that are struggling. The stones reflect the brutal afternoon sun while still letting through the gentler morning light. DecorEarth’s lighter decorative options are perfect for this.
Another clever trick: use larger rocks (tennis ball sized or bigger) to create temporary shade. A few strategically placed rocks can shield young plants during the worst of the day. Think of them as mini shade walls that you can move around as needed.
Working with Rock-Hard December Soil
Let’s face it – if your soil is already hard as concrete, traditional digging is out. You’ll just damage plant roots and exhaust yourself. But you can still improve things.
The secret is working on top, not in. Get some quality garden soil or compost from DecorEarth’s soil range (https://decorearth.com.au/product-category/products/sands-soils/) and use it as a top dressing. Spread a 5cm layer on top of your existing soil, water it in well, and let the worms do the mixing for you. They’re still active in the deeper, cooler soil and will gradually incorporate that organic matter.
For really desperate situations, try this: poke holes in the soil with a garden fork (don’t turn it, just make holes), then top-dress with compost and water in with liquid seaweed. The seaweed helps activate the soil biology, and the holes let water and nutrients get down to where the roots are.
Garden Edge Fixes
December is when bad edges really show their true colours. Every time you water, you can literally see it running off onto paths and paving instead of soaking into your garden beds. That’s your money flowing away.
Quick fix: build up the edges of your beds with some of DecorEarth’s soil products to create a slight lip. This keeps water where it belongs. It’s not pretty, but it works.
Better fix: DecorEarth’s StraightCurve edging (https://decorearth.com.au/product-category/products/straightcurve/) can still be installed in December, though you’ll need to water the area first to soften the soil. The steel edging creates a permanent barrier that stops water loss and looks professional. Plus, once it’s in, it’s in forever – no more seasonal edge maintenance.
Creating Instant Shade
Your plants need shade NOW, not in five years when that tree you’re thinking about planting finally grows. Here’s how to create shade today:
Shade cloth: Yes, it’s obvious, but it works. 30-50% shade cloth on a simple frame can save heat-stressed plants. Don’t let it touch the plants though – it needs airflow underneath.
Stone stacks: Build small walls with flat stones or bricks on the western side of vulnerable plants. Even 30cm high makes a difference during the afternoon heat.
Sacrificial plants: Plant some fast-growing annuals like sunflowers on the western side of precious plants. They’ll cop the worst of the heat while providing shade. Think of them as living umbrellas.
Your December Survival Plan
This Weekend:
- Mulch everything that isn’t already covered – minimum 7cm deep
- Order shade cloth or stones for the worst-hit areas
- Deep water everything before applying any mulch
Next Week:
- Install emergency shade for struggling plants
- Top-dress garden beds with compost
- Fix edges to stop water runoff
Before Christmas:
- Set up a timer-based watering system if you’re going away
- Apply seaweed solution to heat-stressed plants
- Do a final deep water before the holiday break
The Silver Lining
Look, December isn’t ideal for garden work. But every improvement you make now – every bag of mulch spread, every stone placed, every edge fixed – is one less problem in January and February when it’s even hotter.
And here’s the thing: gardens are surprisingly forgiving. Get the basics right (mulch, water, shade) and most plants will pull through. They might not win any beauty contests this summer, but they’ll survive and bounce back in autumn.
Visit DecorEarth Mornington before the Christmas rush. We’re open 7 days (Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:30pm, Saturday 8am-4pm) and can usually deliver within 48 hours. Our staff know what works in Tasmanian summers and can help you prioritise what needs doing first.
Because even though December’s not ideal, it’s better than January. Trust me on that one.
Sources:
Bureau of Meteorology
CSIRO Climate Data
Tasmania Gardening Guides
Horticultural Heat Stress Research
Local Gardening Experience