The holidays are a busy time of year, but for those who love to garden, there’s still plenty to do in December.

Harvest your fall vegetable crop: It is time to start harvesting vegetables from plants sown in September and October. You can even add more vegetable plants before it gets too cold. They include artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, peas, potatoes, and radishes. Note: expect them to grow more slowly than vegetables planted in the spring.

Plant bare root fruit trees: Now is the best time to plant bare root fruit and nut trees, such as apricot, apple, cherry, peach, plum and walnut trees. You will find a variety at your local nursery. Soak the roots in a bucket of water for one hour before planting. Make a hole large enough to hold the roots. Extend the roots to encourage growth. Water abundantly. Cover with a layer of mulch. Keep your tree moist for the first few weeks (regular rain will suffice). Bare root trees are usually less expensive than potted trees because they come without the plastic container.

Plum Deciduous Fruit Tree: Prune deciduous trees once they have lost their leaves. Don’t be afraid to give the tree a healthy trim as they will bounce back nicely in spring.

Fill in the empty spaces in your lawn: Since Southern California winters are mild, there is still time to seed your lawn’s empty spaces. If the rain is scanty, you will need to water regularly.

Start a mulch pile: Rake up the leaves and create a homemade mulch pile. Add leaves and grass clippings. Water the pile (if necessary). Flip once a week. You will have compost for spring.

Remove dead flowers and branches: The gardens can look a bit uneven in winter. Keep them fresh by cutting off dead flowers, leaves and branches. Consider felling large trees, including pines and oaks, if the branches look limp or have grown too large.

Recycle your Christmas tree: Check in your city how and when to recycle your Christmas tree after the holidays. Remove all decorations and lights. Most recyclers will accept flocked and non-flocked trees.

Extend the life of poinsettias: During the holidays, keep poinsettias in a cool indoor location, away from heating vents and fireplaces. Once spring comes next year, cut back the stems. Put them outdoors in the shade during the summer, then bring them indoors in the fall. To get the deep red leaves poinsettias are known for, they’ll need to spend half the day in total darkness starting in October. They will begin to bloom, ready for next Christmas, in mid-November.