December is when the garden really wakes up to summer. Longer days, warm nights, bursts of growth and the occasional heatwave thrown in for good measure. Between festive catch-ups, holiday prep and end-of-year busyness, the garden can easily slip down the list. The good news? A little attention now keeps everything looking great right through the holidays.
Freshen Up for the Festive Season
If you’re hosting Christmas or enjoying more evenings outdoors, now’s the time for a quick spruce-up.
- Pots of hydrangeas, petunias, roses or impatiens give instant colour, and even a simple sweep and tidy can make the whole space feel refreshed.
- If you like a project, a coat of paint on a tired fence or shed works wonders — darker colours help features blend away, while light colours brighten tight spaces.
- Add a couple of cushions or lanterns, and your outdoor area suddenly looks “ready”.
Planting in Early Summer
There’s still plenty you can plant now! Warm-season vegies such as tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, chillies, capsicum, eggplant, lettuce and herbs will all grow well from seedlings. They’ll take advantage of the warmth and reward you quickly.
For cut flowers, plant dahlias, sunflowers and gladiolus.
A regular feed with PowerFeed PRO SERIES keeps both vegies and blooms powering along through the season.
Pots Need Extra Care
Pots dry out faster than anything else in summer.
If water is running across the surface instead of soaking in, apply Seasol Super Soil Wetter & Conditioner to help moisture penetrate the mix again.
Add mulch to pots, water early in the morning, and move them off hot paving or into light shade on extreme days. These small tweaks make a big difference once the temperatures climb.
If You’re Going Away
Before heading off:
- Give garden beds and pots a deep soak with water and Seasol.
- Mulch generously to help soil stay moist.
- Move pots into protected shade.
- Group pots together to help them hold humidity and dry out more slowly.
This simple routine keeps most gardens happy through a week or two of lighter attention.
Indoor Plants in Summer
Indoor plants often struggle with hot western windows and cold blasts from air-conditioning. Move them slightly back from the glass, rotate them for even light, and keep them away from strong drafts.
A light tonic with Seasol Pots & Plants helps them stay steady and healthy during the hotter months.
Lawns in Early Summer
December is a key month for lawn health.
- Water early in the morning for best absorption.
- Treat dry patches with Seasol Super Soil Wetter & Conditioner.
- Raise the mower height to protect roots in the heat.
- Apply Seasol Organic* Iron for Deep Green Lawns for a strong, lasting green.
Small adjustments now set you up for a healthier lawn through January.
Keep an Eye on Pests
Warm weather brings a burst of sap-sucking pests such as aphids and scale.
Check new growth on roses, citrus, vegies and ornamentals. Early clusters can be removed by hand or washed off with a firm spray of water. Staying on top of them early prevents a bigger outbreak later.
Earwigs may also be active around dahlias and young vegies. A simple trap — rolled newspaper inside an upturned pot — still works well. Empty it into soapy water each morning.
