December Christmas Tree Tips and Refreshing Winter Containers

Hi there,

Learn all about how to give your cut or pot-grown Christmas tree the best care this month, and some wonderful plants to grow for a long-lasting dried flower display to enjoy in your home.

Watch: Step-by-Step Christmas Special

I’m excited to bring you the Christmas Special of Step-by-Step Gardening from Bridgemere Show Gardens with Blue Diamond. It is filled with real Christmas tree advice and fun facts about traditional festive plants, giving you ideas to try at home this month. Tap here to subscribe for more gardening tips.

Plants for December Gardens

Find out some of the best plants for some garden colour at Christmas time.

Plan your garden for 2026

Take the time now to plan ahead for what to grow in your 2026 garden.

Top plants for Dried Flower Displays

Find out some of the best plants you can dry for a long-lasting display.

Refresh Winter Containers

(3 easy steps)

With more visitors over the festive season, December is perfect for replanting front door pots with hardy colour. Choose plants that shine now, which can then be replanted into the garden later.

1. Pick the pot and compost – Choose a frost-resistant container with drainage. Fill it with peat-free compost, firming lightly so roots have good contact.
2. Add festive structure – Add plants like skimmia, Christmas rose hellebores and dogwood stems, keep them at the same depth as their nursery pots.
3. Position and enjoy – Water in, then place them by your front door for a warm welcome. After Christmas, move the plants into the garden to grow on.

Top Tip: Grow your own dogwood so you can enjoy the brightly coloured cut stems later. It’s better value, and they’re great reusable decorations.

Find out more about refreshing winter containers here, along with some natural homemade decorations you can make.