Winter Gardening Do’s and Don'ts

Winter is fast approaching and we’re almost there over the brow of the hill. Your garden is going to take right pummelling from the wind, rain, cold and snow that a British winter can bring. That’s why it’s important to make sure that you make sure your garden is prepared for the onslaught. 

Plants are quite hardy and prepare themselves for winter in their own way.

They are quite hardy, especially ornamental plants. Plants will sense changes in the weather (yes, really) and they’ll make their own adjustments to survive. These changes will include slowing down their own growth and stopping the flowering they would normally do in warmer temperatures during spring and summer.

Is there anything else you can do to protect your plants?

Well, freezing nights and mornings can have an impact on more fragile plants, even when they’re not flowering, so it’s important to do all you can. You can cover them and prune them before the drop in temperature arrives.

Water some plants but not all of them will need it.

You won’t need to water them as much because they aren’t growing during this season. But, if your plants have recently been planted you will need to water them, so don’t leave them out this winter.

No need for winter pest control.

The one good thing about winter is all those annoying little pests are hiding away and don’t make much of an appearance in winter, so your plants are free from being bitten and chewed - which is a good thing.

New trees and shrubs are sturdy in winter.

Trees and shrubs do well in winter if you’re planting them for the first time. They’ll be ‘asleep’ or dormant until spring so they’ll be pretty impervious to winter weather. Their growth spurt won’t happen until spring when their roots start to grow, so give them some mulch/compost and this should give them some welcome nourishment.

You can also wrap your plants up so they have that extra bit of protection.

Also wrap up shrubs as well as newly planted trees giving them some double insulation. Cut back on any flowers, such as roses for instance. Pruning will help them to retain their shape and stay healthy during the winter months, and allow room for new growth in the spring.

Scarify and clear your lawn.

Look after your lawn by scarifying it, use a rake, and do it manually if you need to, or use a motorised scarifier. Clear up any autumn leaves, and try and tidy up any loose debris lying around so your lawn will be as clutter free as possible, making it a little easier to handle once spring comes and give you less to clear up. 

Take care of all garden furniture before you pack it away for winter.

Now is a great time to treat your furniture (if you have anything made of timber), clean it and then put it away in the shed ready for spring. You don’t want to leave anything out to face the ravages of damp, freezing temperatures and strong winds. 

Brian’s Garden & Fencing Services - landscaping, fencing and other gardening services.

Got some questions about what we’ve discussed? Why not give us a call and one of our dedicated landscaping team members will talk you through your queries. Winter is also a good time to have some garden work done while the area is being used less, as long as the weather isn’t too severe and temperatures don’t drop too low we can undertake a range of work. We can also discuss plans for the coming months and get you booked in for projects in the new year. Contact us to discuss your garden plans.