Garden planning in December

December may feel like the quietest month in the garden — the ground is frozen, the days are short, and most plants are asleep under a blanket of snow. But for many Canadian gardeners, this is when the magic begins. Winter is the perfect time to dream, imagine, and plan. With a cup of something warm in hand, you can start sketching next year’s veggie patch, mapping out new flower borders, and visualising the colours and flavours that will fill your garden once spring returns.

After all, planning is half the fun of gardening — and December gives you the perfect excuse to do it.

Why Winter Is the Ideal Time to Plan

When you’re not busy watering, weeding, or harvesting, you finally have the mental space to think big. Planning in winter helps you:

Reflect on last season: What grew well? What struggled? What would you do differently?
Order seeds early: Popular varieties sell out fast. December planning means you’ll be ready when catalogues and seed company announcements arrive.
Optimise space: With a map in front of you, you can organise beds more efficiently and make room for new plants.
Prepare for spring chores: Knowing what you want to plant helps you buy supplies, compost, and tools ahead of time.

Plus, dreaming of vibrant tulips, tasty tomatoes, and buzzing pollinators is a great antidote to the winter blues.

Sketching Your Veggie Plot

Whether you grow in raised beds, containers, or a full in-ground garden, a simple sketch can help bring order to your ideas. You don’t need artistic talent — just a pencil, paper, and a sense of adventure.

Here’s what to think about:

Sunlight: Note the areas that get the most sun. Save these for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash.
Crop rotation: Avoid planting the same crops in the same place each year. Rotate to prevent pests and soil nutrient depletion.
Plant spacing: Sketch out approximate spacing so you don’t overcrowd plants come spring.
Succession planting: Plan where you’ll tuck in fast-growing crops like radishes, lettuce, and spinach between slower-growing ones.
Companion planting: Pair friendly plants together — basil with tomatoes, beans with corn, and marigolds almost anywhere to deter pests.

Even a rough layout can save you stress later and help you maximise your harvest.

Dreaming of Spring Blooms

While planning your veggie garden, don’t forget your ornamental spaces. December is a great time to think about:

Colour themes: Do you prefer soft pastels, bold jewel tones, or cheerful mixed borders?
Bloom times: Plan for early-, mid-, and late-season flowers so your garden has colour from April to October.
Pollinator-friendly choices: Consider bee-loving plants like echinacea, lavender, and salvia.
Perennial placement: Think about which areas could use more structure or long-lasting beauty.
New beds or border expansions: Winter planning lets you dream big without the excitement (and distractions!) of spring plant shopping.

If you planted bulbs this fall, imagine how those tulips, crocuses, and daffodils will look as the snow melts — a welcome reward for your late-season efforts.

Tools That Make Planning Easier

A few simple tools can turn your garden daydreaming into a solid plan:

Graph paper for proportionate layouts
Garden journals to track what worked
Seed catalogues for inspiration
Online garden planners that let you drag and drop plant icons
Notes from last season (photos are especially helpful!)

These resources can spark ideas and keep your plans grounded in what your space can realistically support.

Visit Your Local Garden Centre for Inspiration

Many Canadian garden centres stay open year-round and offer workshops, seed catalogues, and expert advice even in winter. Staff can help you select varieties suited to your climate, recommend new cultivars, and suggest layout ideas based on your soil and sunlight conditions. Visiting now might even help you discover new plants to add to your wish list.

The Takeaway: Let Yourself Dream

Gardening isn’t just about the work you do in warm weather — it’s also about the imagination that carries you through the winter months. Planning your garden now keeps you connected to nature, fuels creativity, and sets you up for success when spring arrives.

So grab a notebook, make a sketch, and let your mind wander to sunny days, juicy tomatoes, and beds bursting with colour. Next year’s garden starts today — in your imagination.