As summer shifts into autumn and autumn into winter, you’ll start to notice the nights getting longer, the temperature dropping and people starting to shift their focus towards the festive season.
With so much going on (particularly right now) it can be easy to overlook the part of your home that probably won’t be getting much use for the next few months. But if you neglect your garden over the winter, you’ll live to regret it in the spring.
The following tips should give you some idea on how to prepare yourgarden for next year without spending a fortune.
- Frost protection
Not all flowers naturally die in the winter. Some annual flowers can actually survive throughout the year but only if you take the requisite measures when the temperature drops. Flowers such as French marigolds and zinnias can survive the winter but don’t like the frost and won’t survive the coldertemperatures without a little help.
To protect them andhelp them flourish in the warmer months, you can cover them with a light sheet and use stones to weigh them down. You can also add mulch or compost to protect them or even pot them and bring them inside if needs be. Also, remember to water your plants at least a few days before the first frost hits as wet soil retains more heat than dry soil.
- Sharpen your tools
Maintaining tools is much easier during the summer months when they are constantly in use. But there’s no reason why you can’t keep your tools sharp and sterile during the winter. After all, you could come to use your gardening tools in the spring and find dull blades that lead to damaged branches.
So, turn your Milwaukee radio up nice and loud and get sharpening your tools for the next season. You can use a sharpening stone, a file or bespoke sharpening tools. Ensure you’re wearing eye protection while doing so, however, as getting metal filing in your eyes is not an experience you want to suffer through.
- Get rid of invasive weeds
Weeds like bindweed or horsetail are incredibly invasive in the UK, so getting rid of them in winter is the best way to ensure they don’t ruin next season’s bloom. Weeds have a tendency to come back unless they are pulled out at the root, so don’t be afraid to get tough on them.
It’s also worth keeping an eye out for the various types of invasive weed that seem to be evolving every year. For example, Japanese Knotweed is rife in certain parts of the UK right now and hogweed is not only invasive and unpleasant but can damage your skin if it makes contact. So, always remember to wear gloves when weeding too!
- Nurture trees and bushes
Trees and bushes usually survive winter as they are more resilient than conventional flowers.However, giving then some added special treatment will increase the likelihood of them surviving the winter months.
So, give them plenty of water before the winter weather truly kicks in and the big freeze begins. Also, spread organic material to keep moisture in the soil. Because even during the winter, plants need water. And remember to trim any damaged branches to prevent snow and frost damage.