The temperature has certainly dropped here in the UK and it is time to pack away the patio furniture and swap evening barbeques in the garden with the Chimnea blazing for nights with a takeaway, sat under a blanket in front of the log burner. This doesn’t mean gardening is off limits and there are plenty of jobs to get on with to protect and prepare for the winter months ahead of the return of spring.
Winter plants protection
If your permanent plants are too big to move, insulate the pots with hessian sacks or similar, to prevent the roots suffering from frost damage.
If you have a pond, now is the time to remove and clean the lights and pump before storing away for the winter.
Insulate your outdoor tap to prevent frost and of course either insulate your pet’s cages or bring them indoors.
Keep off the grass.
If the lawn is wet or frozen over avoid walking across it and dragging mud over it will which subsequently set hard in the summer.
Fallen leaves can provide a haven for pests to live and also disintegrate and make a mess of your lawn.
During milder winter weather it is fine to mow the lawn if it is growing but life the mower blades higher and leave the grass a little bit longer.
Beyond plants
Garden maintenance goes beyond the plants.
Scrub patios, paths and decking to keep them free from moss and mud and prevent them from becoming hazardous.
Check all external fixtures for damage to be prepared for extreme weather. Check fence posts and panels are secure, check the roof of your shed and check that gates are securely locked to prevent them from blowing open and causing damage. Pack away any light-weight garden ornaments that could get broken in heavy winds or high rainfall.
Pack away any toys or furniture to stop them from getting ruined in the winter months. If you don’t have enough room in the shed alongside all your gardening tools, you could buy covers and securely wrap bikes and scooters to keep the worst of the rain off them.
Winter plants
By growing plants suited to colder weather, you can enjoy your garden all year and bring a splash of colour to contrast dull skies.
Evergreen shrubs will last all year round and can bring a range of colours to the garden even in winter.
Winter bedding plants like violas, pansies and forget-me-nots or even winter heathers look great in borders and shrubs such as Jasminum Officinale Nudiflorum, Hamamelis Intermedia ‘Arnolds Promise’ and Chimonanthus Praecox can do well in containers.
