December in Southern California can still sometimes offer warmer weather, but generally we see cooler temperatures. With the holiday season upon us, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the past year’s lessons and to look to the garden for seasonal inspiration. The holidays are a time for special meals, and with our cool-season veggie gardens now in full swing, we can enjoy the taste and nutrition of winter crops.

Maintain tools. Remove rust and dirt on all your tools. Use a wire brush for larger tools and shovels, and use a fine steel-wool brush on smaller tools. Once tools are clean, focus on sharpening them with a whetstone. Maintaining the original angle of the blade is the goal. I like to use a workbench to hold pruners and shears down to ensure I get a consistent angle when sharpening. Once sharpened, lubricate tools using a machine or synthetic oil. Learn more on how to clean and sharpen a variety of different tools here.

Plant winter-blooming natives. Fall and winter are good times to plant, as getting roots established with winter rains is ideal. There is still plenty of time to plant California natives, in particular, before spring. Be thoughtful of winter interest and providing seasonal food for pollinators by incorporating winter-blooming species into your garden. For example, two favorite winter bloomers for hummingbirds are California fuchsia (Epilobium canum, Zones 8–11) and Western columbine (Aquilegia formosa, Zones 8–11).

Create homemade holiday décor. Take a look around for holiday decoration inspiration this month. There are plenty of seasonal items that you might be able to find in your garden. A few good options are magnolia leaves (Magnolia spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9), dormant grape vines, and eucalyptus pods (Eucalyptus spp. and cvs., Zones 8–11). Add red berries from toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia, Zones 7–11) for a festive touch.

Study up on fruit tree pruning. The time to prune your deciduous fruit trees is just around the corner (January to early February). Now is the time to refresh your memory on pruning technique. Remember the “4 Ds” of pruning: removing the dead, diseased, damaged, and diagonal branches (those branches growing inward). Bareroot fruit trees should also become available to plant in the ground this month. Learn more about pruning your deciduous fruit trees here:

• Maintenance Pruning
• Two Ways to Prune New Fruit Trees

Reflect on the past season of gardening. This is an often-overlooked task that is very beneficial to a gardener’s growth. We think we will remember all that goes on in a season, but the reality is that it is easy to forget. Take the time to sit and reflect on what you have planted and observed this past year. This will help you make decisions in the future. Also, consider writing out a calendar of seasonal tasks for the year to come.

—Cara Hanstein is a head gardener at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw with 6-Piece Saw Blade Set

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You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm
- DW4856 Metal/Woodcutting Reciprocating Saw Blade Set, 6-Piece

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Worx WG323 20V Power Share 10" Cordless Pole/Chain Saw with Auto-Tension (Battery & Charger Included)

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[12’ EXTRA REACH] It takes just a few minutes and no tools to attach the pole. And with a reach of up to 12’ and only 10 lbs., you’ll be able to get to branches and limbs before they become a problem. Please refuel before use, but oil is sold separately. [FAST, CLEAN CUTS] This cordless 20V PowerShare chain saw is as fast and powerful as anything in its class. And with no gas, and no cord, there’s much less muss and fuss. [SAME BATTERY, EXPANDABLE POWER] The same battery powers over 75plus 20V, 40V, and 80V lifestyle, garden, and power tools in the Power Share family. [AUTO-CHAIN TENSION] The automatic, tool-free chain tension system ensures you’ll always have the correct tension for the job at hand. [AUTO-CHAIN LUBRICATION] The automatic chain lubrication system not only makes for smoother, more efficient cuts, but it extends the life of the tool. And the oil level indicator lets you know exactly where you stand. [COMPACT, LIGHTWEIGHT] The saw itself weighs only 10 lbs. You’ll work longer, with less strain on your hands, arms, back, and legs. [PLENTY OF JUICE] These are the same batteries we use on our Jawsaw and in our lawnmowers. They’re powerful enough for those, and powerful enough for a chainsaw.

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