How to Take Care of Your Garden in Winter
29-12-2021
Every season has its own beauty, even the winter. Taking care of your garden in winter requires different care than other seasons. Winter is the perfect time to prepare for spring and summer. We give you tips on how to take care of your winter garden.
Tips for maintaining your garden in winter
- Remove spent plants
Cut faded flowers and damaged or diseased branches and clear up fallen leaves. Removing old plants will tidy it up and prevent the spread of pests, diseases, and fungi. Rake the lawn, prune old branches and broom the garden paths. - Prune trees and shrubs
To promote the growth of larger shoots in spring, you can prune your shrubs and trees. Please check whether your plants need a winter prune or prefer to be pruned right after flowering. Prune summer and autumn-flowering shrubs and trees in late winter or early spring. - Get mulching
Adding a layer of mulch to your soil’s surface in winter protects your plants from the harsh weather conditions of winter freezes, thaws and winds. Mulching in winter helps to keep the soil’s temperature consistent. This keeps the plant in dormancy and prevents it from triggering new growth during a brief warm day in winter. Mulching in winter also helps to conserve water in the soil. Look to use organic mulch as this can help feed your garden beds when it breaks down over time. - Create a compost heap
You can start a compost pile for the promise of healthier plants next near. Creating rich, natural compost can take 6-8 weeks, so now it’s time to get started. Collect green and brown organic waste, starting with a bottom layer of twigs or straw, to aerate. Green waste includes kitchen scraps, like potato skins, fruits, tea bags, vegetables, grass clippings and coffee grounds. Brown waste includes dry, brown leaves, dried grass, tree trimmings, shrub prunings and newspapers. You will need a good mix of green and brown manure to create a compost pile. - Move potted plants
If you have some potted hebes or shrubs that have are now struggling with the reduced light in winter, you should move them to somewhere warmer and safer. Sometimes this means another location in your garden, but some plants have to be moved indoors to prevent damage from the winter freeze. - Plant winter-tolerant plants
Many varieties bloom in winter and can handle the cold. You have to clear out your soil first, remove weeds, cut dead plants and mix in organic matter to enrich the soil. Plant hardy plants, such as Sarocococca hookeriana Purple Stem, Sarocococca ruscifolia or Cornus alba Sibirica.
If you put enough effort and work into maintaining your garden in winter, you will be enjoying springtime even more. If you follow the advice we’ve just given you or have taken a look at our aftercare advice pages, you’ll love a healthy, happy and green garden ready for a whole new growing season. Grab your gloves and get started!