8 things to do in your garden in the winter season

David Banks
Authored by David Banks
Posted Friday, October 30, 2020 - 10:26am

Over the past several months, all of us in Britain have become more acquainted with our gardens than (probably) ever before. So, with restrictions continuing and winter coming, how can we continue to enjoy our personal green space?

  1. Tidy your shed

There’s a fair amount of prep that needs doing to any garden before the first frost, but if the shed is untidy, it will make it harder to find the tools you need and there’ll be nowhere to store furniture, toys, or delicate potted plants.

This is also the time to have a clear out of broken/unused items and service tools.

Get a shed

If you don’t already have a shed, consider getting one before winter. It’ll make your prep much easier and free up room in your house, which is something everyone needs if we’re going to be inside more.

Of course, it’s not the right time to erect a brick or wooden shed because they shouldn’t be built in the rain, which will delay the building process and prep schedule. Plus, they tend to be quite expensive, which isn’t what anyone needs right now. A steel shed is quick to assemble, much cheaper, and can be done without hiring a professional, which in turn makes the process faster and less expensive.

  1. Protect garden furniture and outdoor toys

This is essential because even treated wood and hard plastic don’t stand up to too much rain, wind, and snow.

If possible, these should be put in a shed, garage or your house. (You can disassemble most larger items to save room.) Otherwise, the best option is to bring in what you can, weather-treat wooden items, and invest in a plastic rain cover that should be weighted down with rocks.

  1. Safeguard delicate plants

Some plants, like bananas, dahlias, and cannas, have a hard time during winter, but they can be protected from the worst of the weather by bringing them inside or covering them up.

  1. Prune

Now is the best time to prune plants because it will encourage strong growth in a good shape for next year and stop the spread of plant diseases. If you don’t know how to prune, click here.

Plants that need pruning in winter include:

  • Grapevines
  • Fruit bushes and trees
  • Ornamental trees and shrubs that have shredded their leaves
  • Roses
  • Wisteria
  • Clematis
  1. Plant

It might seem illogical to plant things in winter, but this is actually the perfect time to plant bare-root trees and bushes, which are sold without soil on the roots because planting them in the dormant season allows the roots to take hold without expending precious energy on flowers and foliage. (As a bonus, they’re also cheaper than plants grown in containers.)

Another good option would be to fill pots with colourful winter plants, like ivy, rosemary, sage, or heather, to brighten up grey days. If you prefer planting things you can eat, try turnips, rhubarb, garlic, lettuce, spinach, and leeks.

  1. Harvest

On the subject of growing your own food, there are many foods that can be harvested in the winter, including parsnips, kale, sprouts, and winter salad. You can also grow pulses and microgreens inside in little pots or, if you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, you could grow citrus plants.

  1. Enjoy the plants that are still in your garden

From winter plants to evergreen shrubs and trees to the seed heads of perennials, there are plenty of flowers and foliage to enjoy over the winter. Some of our favourites include snowdrops, crocuses, and daphne.

  1. Make space for wildlife

It can be hard for birds, animals, and insects to find food over winter, so if you’d like to make your garden a wildlife-friendly habitat, opt for plants they can eat or get little feeders that you can fill with grains, seeds and oats.

Also, it’s a good idea to provide water and change it regularly. If you don’t have a birdbath, fill a shallow bowl with water.

Hopefully, this will help you enjoy your garden just as much in the winter as you did in the summer albeit it more wrapped up.

 

 

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