Preparing Your Garden For Winter
With the days getting shorter and colder, it’s evident that winter will soon be upon us. It’s therefore, time to get your garden ready for the onslaught of rain, storms, snow, wind and hail. And if essential garden maintenance is completed, you’ll feel safe in the knowledge that come Spring, there’ll be a lot less to do, and you’ll have much more to work with.
Gutters and pipes need special care and attention
Make sure you’re vigilant by keeping your gutters pipes and drains clear of any debris. Autumn leaves are a particular problem so remove these from guttering as soon as possible. You can purchase wire covers which prevent leaves from collecting in your drains.
Check your timber items
Check all garden furniture, tools and accessories. This will naturally include the shed and any fences. Make any rudimentary repairs and treat timber if you spot any damage. Wait until it’s dry before you treat any wood, whether it’s decking, fencing or the shed itself.
Remove dead plants
It’s a good time to remove any old plants that are no longer doing your garden any favours. There may be a variety of different reasons, but these could include disease, fungus or insect invasion. By removing them you leave room for your healthy plants to thrive, and by adding some organic matter, the soil is given a healthy boost.
Those dreaded weeds
Weeds are always a problem, but you can do something about them. Dig them up and place them in the garden refuse bin, or you use them for compost.
Preparing the soil
Start preparing your soil for Spring, especially after you’ve sorted the weeds. Adding some nutrients to your soil will help it to stay healthy over the coming months. You could add things like compost, manure and kelp and this will help it to become biologically active. If you dig and turn the soil now while it’s still soft, you’ll have less to do when spring comes and improve drainage before the frost and rain arrive.
Plastic sheets, pruning and spacing
Add a plastic sheet covering the soil where plants are placed, so it’ll be sheltered from the elements. You can remove this early next year and then till it gently in readiness for some spring planting. Trim your perennial plants and divide any existing plants that look like they’re overcrowded. Also try pruning any berries and herbs, plus any vegetables you may have. This groundwork will help you to have a bed full of healthy plants and flowers.
Brian’s Garden and Fencing Services - for all your garden maintenance
We hope you enjoyed our hints and tips for preparing your garden for winter. If you’ve any questions on garden maintenance, don’t hesitate to get in touch and one of our dedicated team would be more than happy to help you.