The days are getting shorter and darker and the promise of rain is becoming increasingly likely; a sure sign that autumn is upon us. If you’re already yearning for the springtime bees and the summer blooms, we have the checklist that is sure to have you enjoying gardening in winter. To ensure that you have the best summer garden next year, make sure you get these winter tips checked off to have your garden maintained for winter.
Tips To Prepare A Garden For Winter
Clean Up and Prune Plants
A lot of your outside plants have had their peak and are ready to enter their dormant phase. Be sure to deadhead your autumn plants and prune your summer flowering plants before it gets frosty. If you can, leave fresh water and an untidy corner for hibernating animals, such as hedgehogs, to help them out this winter.
Worried that your favourite flower might not return next year? Take cuttings to ensure that it will. This is an easy, inexpensive way to create more plants. If you’re dubious about slicing through your shrubs – maybe you’ve never done it before and want to make sure you do it correctly – hire a gardener to help you get on top of it all. They can help with regular garden maintenance or lend their services for a particular one-off job. Specialist gardeners who understand the needs of each person they work with and their garden can ensure that you maximise your space and materials.
Shield Plants From Cold
Some plants will happily take shelter in your house in the winter, but make sure to find them the best spot for the sun, although it might be difficult. Those plants that unfortunately are too big to come inside your home can be moved to a greenhouse or covered with fleece or hessian wrapping. Young plants will benefit from a cold frame over the winter, but make sure to open the lid if it gets warm to prevent them from overheating or getting diseases.
Winter crops will still require protection from the cold days which will impact their rate of survival. Cloches can be used to protect low-growing plants such as vegetables and herbs. If you’re not sure which plants will survive winter without your input, always seek gardening tips from a landscape professional as they will be able to provide you with credible advice.
Dig Garden Beds
Digging can be an arduous task but it’s the best way to enrich compacted soil. Autumn is the perfect time of year to do this as the soil is usually moist but not frozen or waterlogged. The best way to dig the garden beds is by creating a neat trench of the same depth and width as the spade you are using, breaking up and turning the soil as you go. Adding homemade compost to the soil will enrich the soil with nutrients.
Whether you use your garden to grow produce for the family to graze on, or as a haven for insects and wildlife to thrive in, these winter gardening tips are sure to help provide the same success for the next coming year.
To find out more about garden maintenance or garden landscaping, get in touch with us at Kite Landscapes on 01344 886331, or visit our contact page to submit a contact form.