Yes, it is true. Although the summer manages to cling on for longer and longer each year, the fact is that Autumn and a sharp plummet into Winter are soon to be looming! All too often, after the shadow of winter has lifted, our gardens look a little sorry for themselves. However, if we prepare our gardens sufficiently to last out the chilly months, this needn’t be the case. In fact, there are ways to not only help your garden survive the season, but also to look good doing it. We, at Sloane and Sons Garden Benches, have some great tips to help prepare your outdoor space for the plunge!
1 Give It All A Good Scrub and A Tidy Up
Once autumn is in full swing, the trees are bare, and the leaves lie on the ground all crisp and brown; now is the time to have a good tidy up! This much easier to do when the leaves are crisp, so get in now before the frost renders them a soggy mess. Also, any paths and patios could do with a good power wash. Any dirt, moss or debris left on these will make the winter frost all the more hazardous. Bear in mind that this is probably the last time you are going to want to venture out and tidy up until the spring comes!
Photo source Elena Elisseeva/Shutterstock
2 Get Any Repairs Out of The Way
If any of your garden structures (sheds, trellises, fences and greenhouses) are looking a bit rough and damaged, get those fixed now. The reasons being, a) Once the surrounding plant life is bare, these structures are easier to gain access to. And b) winter frost can wreak havoc on any cracks and breakages. When moisture freezes within these structures it gradually expands and decays cracks, breaks and crevices.
3 Clean Out Any Water Features
Water features tend to get clogged up at this time of year. So, ensure all waterways are clear of leaves, moss and any other gunge! Water is also more likely to stagnate and murk up during the winter, so now is also a good time to replace and replenish old water with fresh!
4 Protect Your Pond
Autumn is the time at which animal life is generally the most dormant. If you have a pond this is the perfect time to clean it and undertake any heavy work that needs doing on it, as this is the least disruptive time of the year. If the water is murky, replace it, if the structure is weak, fix it. It is also a good idea to put a net over your pond during the winter to ensure that the water and the life within it doesn’t get clogged up or contaminated.
Photo source gorosan/Shutterstock
5 Winter Greens
Yes, winter is not known for being kind to plant life. However, there are plenty of plants that can survive, or even thrive in colder weather. If your garden is generally quite ‘summer-centric’, then now might be the time to indulge in some winter plants – cold does not mean that your garden should have no colour! Evergreens are a great place to start, but there are loads of other ways to populate a winter garden in an interesting and exciting way!
6 Winter Crops
Are you an advocate of growing your own vegetables? Sad to see the last of your summer crop disappear? Well, you can carry on all through the year. There are lots of vegetables that can be planted during the summer in order to ensure a bountiful winter harvest. Sprouting broccoli, kale, winter cabbage, Brussels sprouts and leeks all do really well in the winter if planted early enough. Potatoes, onions, garlic, cress and some salad leaves can even be planted as late as October for a mature winter crop.
7 Your Lawn
If your lawn is looking a bit sad, autumn is the best time to give it a new lease of life. Grass generally does pretty well during the winter, the weeds and moss that tend to plague lawns and grassy areas do not do so well. So, clear away any debris or unwanted growths before winter kicks in. If you re-seed or even re-turf your lawn just before winter, then it will have plenty of time to settle and establish itself before the temperature sneaks up again.
Photo source kurhan/Shutterstock
8 Spring Flowering Bulbs
If you want to ensure that your garden bursts into an explosion of life and colour when spring comes around again, then get your early spring flowering bulbs planted! Flowers such as tulips, iris’ and daffodils are some of the most popular. But make sure you get them in before the ground starts to freeze!
9 Cast Out Your Compost
This clear up will give you plenty of new material for your compost heap. So, with that in mind, now is a good time to use up any of your current compost stock around the garden. With so much potential ‘new compost’ coming your way, there is no need to worry about running out. Considering this is perhaps the last treatment your garden is going to get in a while, it could probably do with a good composting!
10 Tend to Your Gardening Gear
Before you put your kit away for the winter, make sure it’s all in good shape. The last thing you want is to forget about any broken stuff and be disappointed when you get it all back out in May, only to find that your lawnmower has packed in! Get it all seen to now whilst it is in your mind.
*This is a collaborative post*
Featured image source Image Conscious/Shutterstock
I have been out reseeding my lawn this week as I had loads of gaps where I had dug up all the dandelions!