How to Prepare Your Garden for Winter
The average garden doesn’t appear to have that much going on in the winter. But if you want your plants to come back in full bloom next year, there are plenty of tasks to keep you busy as the months draw in.
Protect your plants
The first frost could arrive any time between October and early November. Before this, give your plants a better chance of surviving it by adding replacement covers to your polytunnels.
This keeps them warm and means they don’t have to take a battering from torrential rain or snow. Make sure the cover fabric rests on hoops or stakes though, not the tops of the plants. Otherwise, the frost will still penetrate them.
Find use for garden waste
Burn garden waste and the outcome could be a material that you can actually use to enrich your plants!
The best example is wood ash. Thanks to its calcium and potassium content, it’s a great nutrient for plants or crops that need alkaline soil. Crops like garlic, leeks, lettuces and chives can all benefit. Just ensure your soil has a pH of below 6.5 first, and don’t use the ash from pressure-treated wood.
Tidy up
Now’s the ideal time to tidy up your garden. Most natural materials you don’t need can go in your compost bin. Trim the edges of your lawn and remove any patches of moss. Keep stray leaves off the lawn, as a build-up can get in the way of healthy grass growth.
If you have any roses, give them a good prune in January or February, catching them before leaves start to sprout. Modern varieties can take a thorough pruning, while you might need to take a gentler approach with older varieties.
And if there’s a greenhouse in the garden, clear away all the leftover debris from summer. Clean the windowpanes and get rid of any algae with a garden disinfectant.
Plant for next year
One of the most enjoyable jobs for the colder months is planting next spring’s bulbs.
Plant daffodil and snowdrop bulbs in September. You can leave tulip bulbs until October or November. Choose spots in the garden that will agree with the type of flower. For example, tulips and daffodils grow better in warm, sunny spots where the drainage is efficient.
General maintenance
Autumn is a prime time to repair any sheds or other outbuildings. Check for loose or rotten boards and replace any you find.
See to it that door hinges are in good working order so that you can eliminate icy draughts. If the hinges are squeaky or the door sags, it may be at risk of falling off completely.
Your garden is winding down, but don’t become complacent. Get these simple tasks sorted and the rewards will be self-evident in spring!
