Ready Your Garden for the Holidays in 4 easy Steps

The Holiday Season is here, which means most of us are too busy to garden. To help, here are 4 easy steps to a sparkling holiday garden fit for company.

Gorgeous Holiday Tree at Montecito Miramar Hotel

Add Mulch

Adding a layer of mulch to your garden is like frosting a cake, it makes the garden look neat and tidy and complete. Plus mulch can cover a lot of sins.

Holiday decor at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito

sweep it up

The easiest way to help your garden shine is to literally shake them and sweep them. If you want to tidy up your garden fast, grab your broom and literally sweep your plants. This will shake off the yellow leaves and remove excess dust and spider webs. Since there is a drought we can’t wash off the plants, sweep instead.

Montecito gate with Holiday decor

sweep more

Rake and sweep paths, patios and don’t forget the eaves, window sills and every single surface. You will be amazed at how much better your garden looks if you do this one task. Sweep the railings and everything else once you get going you will see the dust and debris everywhere (sorry) but it is so rewarding. And the result is a sparkling garden that is ready for your holiday celebrations.

Keep it simple

One of the simplest ways to decorate for the holidays is to collect cuttings from your own garden. Nature is the best teacher and you can get all the Holiday Cheer you need out of your own landscape. The garden likely needs some pruning anyway, so get out there and prune what you have. Persimmon, citrus, evergreens, Mediterranean favorites like sage, bay and lavender all make delightful decor. I much prefer this to any of the store bought stuff. And when the holidays are over, just toss the trimmings in the compost bin. Of course a few sparkling lights and candles will add that little extra delight.

Whatever your plans, I hope you take the time to take in all the splendor and fun. If all of this is too much, forget it. Just be yourself and have some fun.