A-Z of DIY & Building Guides Prepare Your Garden For Winter

Date Published:

22/05/2008

When your garden is winding down for its winter rest, there are still chores to do and ways to make the bleaker seasons more attractive. Here's what to bear in mind if you are a garden novice.

By Justine Roffey

Early autumn is a time for taking stock, clearing out and planning for the seasons to come. But as the garden enters its dormant phase, it's still possible to create areas of interest and colour. It's also a time for routine maintenance. If you are a beginner the range of jobs that need doing can seem bewildering, so here's what you need to know. It's also a good idea to pick the brains of people who know more than you, so don't be afraid to ask experienced gardeners, invest in a good all-round gardening book, and speak to the staff at the garden centre.

Time for a tidy up

Plants that flourished and looked stunning during the summer are well past their best now. Annuals, the plants that only last one season, need to be dug up and thrown away - ideally on the compost heap. Perennials are plants that spring up year after year from the roots, so these need to be cut back.

It's a good idea to hang on to the label that comes with the plant for care instructions, as some perennials like to be cut down to the ground and others need a bit of growth left. Perennials and shrubs with tender roots can be protected with a mulch of wood chips or straw, held in place with fleece.

Maintenance Must-Do's

The end of the growing season signals the perfect time for a spot of routine maintenance. You might think the lawn pretty much looks after itself, but it will benefit from raking over to remove leaves and to 'scratch' the surface, and from an application of lawn fertiliser.
When the herbaceous borders are empty of flowers it's a good time to check whether any structural repairs need doing.

Check walls and fences for signs of wear, and repair any loose panels or holes. Wobbly paving stones can also be secured, but ensure you choose a dry spell to do any cementing.

Remember to store garden furniture under cover to protect it from the worst of the winter weather. Either move it into the garage or shed, or cover it with a tough plastic protector securely fixed down. Wooden items, such as benches, woven screens or pergolas, may benefit from a treatment of chemical preservative or oil to protect them from the worst the winter throws at them.

If you have a pond, remember to cover it with a net to prevent falling leaves polluting the water, and if it has fish ensure it never freezes completely to enable them to breathe. A good way of doing this is to put a child's ball on top of the water. When the pond freezes, just lift off the ball and you have a ready-made hole.