How to Get your Garden ready for Winter

By Jeff Nevil

Getting Started

• This guide has been created to help you prepare your garden as winter approaches

• Whether you are just starting out or you’ve been gardening a lifetime, there’s something new to learn in these helpful hints and tips

The Last Grass Cut Before Winter

It is usually around September that most people will think about doing the last grass cut before winter sets in. Here are my tips for your lawn:

• Re-seed thin spots in the lawn in Autumn and add a layer of compost. This will help build the roots and the nutrients will continue to be washed into the grass throughout winter due to the rain

• Instead of raking off and disposing of your leaves, try to shred the leaves and place a layer of compost over the top of your grass. The leaves will eventually breakdown and add lots of nutrients to the soil

Trees

• You may need to scale a tree back if it is blocking the sun from your garden or a neighbours. There are some great facts in this guide about tree legislations

• With heavy rain and high winds, it is a good idea to think about tree surgery and cutting your trees back before the bad weather comes in

• If you have planted any new trees, it is a good idea to put a guard around the bottom of them to protect them against burrowing animals and birds. Try to make it higher than the snow level too – just in case any snow decides to fall this winter

Weeds

• Try to remove any unwanted common weeds such as Bindweed, Sheep Sorrel or Goosegrass

• A good trick is to pour boiling water on the usual

places the weeds appear as this kills the weed at the root. You can also try this trick at any time of the year

• You can also use a pressure washer to remove any moss and weeds from your drive-way

Invasive Weeds

• Take a good look for invasive weeds and other plants that can get you into legal disputes and cause issues if selling your home

Ones to look out for: • Japanese Knotweed causes issues with building

foundations which can reduce the value of your home. Japanese Knotweed removal services are available across the UK. If you think you have invasive plants but if your not sure, there is this handy identification guide online if you need

• Ivy causes issues with damp in some houses and is quite commonly known to be used as a climbing plant. Don’t let it get out of hand, now is the time to cut it back

Wildlife

• Autumn is definitely the time for bird feeders to go up. Keeping the birds fluttering around in your garden will help to keep down the damage from overwintering pests

• If you particularly want to attract a robin in your garden this year, you could always put up a birdhouse or use crumbled suet cake or dried mealworms to tempt them in

Garden Furniture

• If you have a patio, the best way to clean it is to purchase a jet wash to make sure you blast away all the dirt and leaves that fall in the autumn

• Wooden materials can often be adversely affected by the rain, cold, sleet and other weather exposure. It is best to store your furniture in a shed if you have the room, or cover it tight in a large tarpaulin which you can buy from most DIY stores

Gardening Tools

• Autumn/Winter is the best time of year to think about sharpening, cleaning, oiling, and ultimately replacing any of your gardening tools beyond repair

• This time of year is also a good time to look out for those garden tool offers and offers on plants and equipment you might need next year

Greenhouse

If you have some plants you want to last through to winter, keep them warm by:

• Insulating the walls with bubble wrap

• Buying a heater for your plants. Do not forget to ventilate the greenhouse if you do use this method

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