Summer has officially arrived! December is full of sunshine, growth, and festive colour, making it the perfect month to boost your edible garden and freshen up outdoor spaces in time for holiday BBQs and Christmas gatherings.
From planting heat-loving crops and refreshing soil to Christmas-themed pots and drought-smart landscaping, these practical tips will keep your garden thriving right through summer.
With the right mix of mulching, watering, feeding, and decorative choices, you can enjoy a beautiful, productive garden while reducing maintenance in the hottest months ahead.
Here are our top 10 tips and recommended products to help your garden look spectacular this December.
Key Products this December: Mulch & Bark | Pea Straw | Pavers | Garden & Lawn Soils | Compost | Fertiliser.
1. Mulch for Maximum Moisture Retention
December heat can quickly dry out exposed soil, making mulching one of the most valuable tasks of the season. Apply a thick layer of bark or mulch around vegetable beds, fruiting plants, shrubs, and young trees to retain moisture and regulate temperature.
Summer producers like melons, pumpkins, feijoas, tamarillos, and passionfruit benefit greatly from mulch, which also prevents fruit skins from rotting when resting on wet soil.
For veggies, pea straw is ideal because it breaks down over time, enriching soil with organic matter. Before mulching, weed thoroughly, water deeply, and then layer mulch generously to lock in moisture and boost resilience heading into Januaryâs hottest days.
A well-mulched garden not only retains water (saving money and time), but also suppresses weed growth, supports soil life, and keeps your plants fresher, greener, and more productive.
2. Plant Summer Veggies and Support Climbing Crops
December is still prime planting time for tomatoes, capsicums, cucumbers, beans, and chillies. Choose a rich, free-draining garden soil mix and water plants deeply to encourage strong root growth in the heat.
Climbing crops such as beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers must be supported early so they can maximise sunshine and airflow, improving fruiting and reducing disease. Use stakes, trellis frames, or even timber sleepers cut to size for sturdy training posts.
Mulch around melons and pumpkins to protect fruit as they grow on the ground. For extended harvests, plant a fresh round of lettuce in light shade â morning sun with afternoon protection prevents wilting and bitterness.
With the right structure and soil care now, your summer crops will reward you from Christmas right through to autumn.
3. Feed and Refresh Soil for Bigger Yields
Productive summer crops need consistent nutrition to keep flowering and fruiting through heat. Top up raised beds and depleted soils with fresh compost or garden mix to boost nutrient levels.
Follow up with a balanced fertiliser suited to fruiting and flowering plants, and water thoroughly. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, citrus, and stone fruit benefit from feeding this month.
Protect berries from birds using netting and ensure fruit trees are mulched for moisture retention. For organic gardeners, consider homemade pest deterrents such as garlic or chilli sprays â just remember to apply late in the day to prevent leaf burn.
A refreshed soil and steady feeding regime now will maximise summer harvests and produce sweeter, fuller fruit.
4. Plant Leeks, Check Early Potatoes, and Manage Herbs
Leeks can be planted in December by trimming half the green tops and placing seedlings into 5 cm deep holes. Donât fill the holes â let soil naturally settle in around the plants as they grow, creating tender blanched stems.
Check for early potatoes by gently digging into the mounds once foliage begins to yellow; harvest without disturbing the entire crop. Herbs and lettuces that have bolted may look messy, but their flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects â great for boosting pollination in your garden.
Rather than pulling every plant out, leave a few to flower and feed your ecosystem. Refresh soil with compost or garden mix to keep veggie beds productive throughout summer.
5. Weed and Summer-Prune Ornamental Plants
December weeds thrive quickly in warm soil, competing for moisture and nutrients. Weed regularly to reduce stress on your garden, but avoid major hedge trimming in summer â exposed foliage can burn badly in strong sun. Instead, focus on summer pruning of vigorous growers such as rambling roses, jasmine, and wisteria.
Light shaping keeps plants tidy and prevents returning home from holiday to a jungle. Clear, watered beds respond beautifully to a fresh topping of mulch or bark, even in ornamental spaces. The result is a fresh, healthy, and low-maintenance garden ready for Christmas visitors.
6. Christmas-Themed Pots and Festive Colour
Celebrate the season with vibrant pots of red petunias, impatiens, geraniums, and festive companion plants like silver-foliaged Dusty Miller or helichrysum.
For Kiwi flair, a potted Pohutukawa makes a stunning alternative Christmas tree and thrives in well-draining potting mix. Keep pots well-watered and feed with a weekly liquid fertiliser to protect foliage from burn and keep blooms strong.
Remove spent flowers regularly, top with fine mulch to retain moisture, and consider planting fragrant companions like nicotiana or heliotrope for a magical evening scent. For extra fun, sow sunflower seeds now â smaller varieties suit pots, while tall sunflowers make an impressive summer backdrop.
7. Drought-Smart Planting and Ground Covers
Dry areas benefit from hardy, low-maintenance ground covers and silver-foliage plants. Choose drought-resistant species like prostrate muehlenbeckia, coprosmas, carpet thymes, silver toned olives, astelias, and Convolvulus cneorum. These plants thrive with minimal watering once established.
Xerophytic gardens (designed for extremely low watering) look fantastic when finished with decorative pebbles around the base to control weeds and reflect heat away from roots.
Include sculptural succulents and even NZ natives like Poor Knightâs Lily alongside cacti for an architectural, low-water landscape that stays striking through peak summer heat.
8. Mulch Before the Holidays
If youâre heading away, prepare your garden by deep watering and mulching generously. Move pots to shaded spots to reduce evaporation, and use pea straw or bark mulches to hold in moisture.
Install a birdbath and keep it topped up with clean water to support local birds during summer â this helps pollination and pest control.
A simple hour of prep now will mean less watering when you return, fewer wilted plants, and a healthier ecosystem through the hottest part of the year.
9. Summer Lawn Care: Donât Cut Too Short!
Follow the âone-third ruleâ when mowing â never remove more than one-third of the grass height at once. Longer grass shades soil, reduces evaporation, and prevents heat stress.
For patchy or dry-looking lawns, improve moisture penetration with a wetting agent and top up low spots with lawn soil mix. If reseeding or repairing areas, choose premium NZ-suitable grass seed and water deeply rather than frequently â this encourages strong, drought-tolerant roots. A little care now ensures lush, green grass for summer gatherings, cricket, and backyard BBQs.
10. Add Structure with Sleepers and Build Paved Spaces
December is the perfect month to add long-lasting structure to your landscape. Use timber sleepers to frame garden beds, edge pathways, build steps, or construct raised veggie gardens.
For entertaining areas, create a patio or garden walkway using Feinwerk pavers, supported on a foundation of GAP 20 and GAP 7 basecourse. These strong, lightweight pavers are easier to install and provide a sleek, modern finish.
For best results, chat with your local Central Landscape Supplies team for expert guidance on base preparation and installation techniques tailored to your property and soil type. Creating solid pathways and patios now means a cooler, tidier, more usable outdoor space for both summer entertaining and long-term enjoyment.
Shop Central Landscape Supplies this December: Mulch & Bark | Pea Straw | Pavers | Garden & Lawn Soils | Compost | Fertiliser.
Read more Garden Guide's here.
