Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F
December garden checklist for Zone 5
Every December job that matters, limited to plants that actually survive Zone 5 winters (-20°F to -10°F). Last frost lands around early May.
Plant in December
Plant bulbs 6-8 inches deep in well-drained soil in the fall.
Prune in December
Cut back stems to 2 inches after flowering or leave for winter interest
Mulch in December
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the root zone for winter protection.
Propagate in December
Collect mature seed pods in fall for propagation
Harvest in December
Pick outer leaves when usable size; avoid cutting the central growing point
Winter Prep in December
Leave some seed heads standing for winter interest and bird food
What's blooming in December
In flower around now and hardy in Zone 5.
Frost dates and bloom windows are typical ranges, not guarantees — your microclimate moves them by weeks. Sow uses your real local forecast instead.
December questions
What should I be doing in my Zone 5 garden in December?
The jobs that matter most this month are plant, prune, mulch, propagate. Each section above lists the specific plants that need that job in December, filtered to what survives Zone 5 — drawn from the care schedules of the plants gardeners actually grow.
When is the last frost in Zone 5?
In Zone 5, the last spring frost typically lands around early May and the first fall frost around early October, with winter lows of -20°F to -10°F. Those two dates bracket most planting decisions — check your local forecast before acting on either, since microclimate and elevation shift them by weeks.
What's blooming in December?
Hellebore Wedding Party Mix, Lenten Rose Hybrid Mix, Lenten Rose Double Queen Strain, First Dance Lenten Rose Hellebore, Peppermint Ice Lenten Rose and others are in flower around now in Zone 5. The full list is above.
Keep exploring
Nearby months
Get December's tasks for your own plants
Sow builds this checklist from the plants actually in your yard — and adjusts it to your real forecast, so a wet week skips the watering and a frost warning reaches you first.