Our Garden Preparation Tips For Winter
Winter can be a tough time for our gardens, with its freezing temperatures and harsh weather conditions. However, with some simple garden preparation tips, you can keep your outdoor space safe and healthy throughout the season to ensure you have something beautiful to return to come spring.
TM Landscapes are expert landscapers and driveway installers, offering a range of outdoor solutions for our clients across the region. We work come rain or shine and have the right skills to keep your garden healthy no matter the weather.
Using our expertise in landscape and seasonal care, we are sharing some of our best tips to prepare your garden for winter so you can get a head start for spring.
1) Tidy Your Garden
One of the most obvious, but underrated, garden preparation tips is to tidy the space. This should be done with the changing of all seasons, as it ensures your garden is ready for another growing cycle – but it is vital for the offset of winter.
As we have mentioned, winter can be challenging for our outdoor spaces, so anything you can do to make it easier will go a long way. Tidying and clearing the garden is often the first step in preparing it for anything and can help prevent the spread of pests and diseases this winter.
Start the winter preparation by clearing the garden of any debris, dirt, fallen leaves and branches. All organic matter should be removed from the ground and controlled to prevent it from attracting pests. For example, leaves, fruits and branches from any trees in your landscape should be cleared away early in the season.
When tidying the garden and removing debris from the ground, consider these additional steps to give your garden an even better chance when the cold weather truly sets in:
- Removing weeds now will make your garden easier to manage come spring, as many plants enter their dormant season over the winter.
- Compost or mulch garden waste to help your plants thrive this season, as organic materials will offer rich nutrients as they decompose.
A well-tidied garden is essentially a clean slate, making it easier for you to plan your spring gardening and give yourself a head start for the new season.
2) Prune Trees And Shrubs
While tidying your garden, ensure that all areas are considered. Pruning trees and shrubs should be part of this process, as it helps not only create a neat environment for you to return to in the new season but also supports the health of your garden.
Many plants enter their dormant season over the winter, including some trees and shrubs, which is why pruning is often recommended as part of garden preparation tips ahead of this season. It will be easier to shape and manage your trees when they are not growing and are bare of leaves.
Being without leaves also makes it easier for you to identify any broken or diseased branches that need to be removed. These branches are more likely to collapse under the weight of snow or in heavy winds, posing a significant threat this winter and should be addressed as soon as possible.
3) Protect Your Plants
The cold temperatures, frost and snow of winter can be incredibly damaging to your plants and put your previous hard work at risk. Proactive measures to protect your plants are some of the best garden preparation tips for this time of year and can vary based on your garden and the kind of landscape you have.
Ahead of the coldest weather, make sure that you are paying particular attention to your plants. Any potted or smaller plants should be brought inside during winter, whether this is your home or a greenhouse. This keeps them safe from the harsh weather conditions and freezing temperatures which could kill them.
Any plants that cannot be moved can be protected using mulch, compost or even plant covers based on their size and vulnerability. Plant covers, such as fleece, cloches, or even straw can be used to shield plants from the frost and help them maintain a suitable temperature for maximum health. These coverings should be secured in place, but not too tight to the plant to allow for good ventilation.
By preparing your plants now for the coldest weather, you can ensure that you will have a healthy, vibrant garden to return to in spring.
4) Final Acts Of Lawn Care
On a warmer day, get outside and cut your lawn for the last time this season. Your grass will not grow during the winter, so make sure it is neat at the beginning of the season to last until spring. Make sure that your lawn mower is in a higher setting as you want to avoid cutting the grass too short.
Along with doing the final mow, additional garden preparation tips can also apply to the health of your grass such as tidying. Like with other areas of the garden, removing debris such as fallen leaves from the lawn will keep it safe and prevent pests or diseases from spreading.
Following the final mow, you may also want to consider adding a winter fertiliser to the grass to help it thrive this season and ensure you have a lush, green lawn come spring.
5) Secure And Store Garden Accessories
Our garden preparation tips would not be complete without mention of the non-organic elements of your garden. Plants are not the only thing that can be damaged during the winter, as your garden furniture, structures and decor are also at risk this season.
When closing down your garden for the winter, make sure that all moveable accessories and furniture are stored in a safe dry place. A garden shed or garage is ideal for this, but you could also opt to store items in the attic if this is the only space you have available. For larger items, such as garden structures or furniture, prepare them for winter by making sure they are secured and covered.
Secure furniture in place with a garden or bungee rope and use waterproof coverings to protect them from the wet, cold weather. You want to make sure that everything is secure in place and will not blow away or move during winds, as this can cause damage to them and other areas of your garden.
Any decorations used over the summer or autumn, such as metallic signs and ornaments, should be stored away with the furniture as these are subject to damage over the winter.
Conclusion
Winter can be a difficult season for our outdoor spaces, with with the right garden preparation tips this does not have to be the case. The simple steps you do now to protect your garden and get it ready for the winter can go a long way in ensuring you have a healthy, attractive space to return to in spring.
TM Landscapes is an experienced landscaping company, offering a range of outdoor solutions for our clients across Hampshire to keep your garden looking its best all year long. With our expertise and skills, we can help your garden thrive this winter and be ready for a whole new set of adventures next year.
Contact Us Today
If you need support preparing your garden for winter or are looking to completely transform your space, we can help. Contact the team today to learn more or request a quote.