IS YOUR GARDEN PREPARED FOR WINTER?

Is your garden prepared for the winter? With a certain cold in the air and nights drawing in, winter is well and truly on its way. But before you sit back and relax in anticipation for spring, we have put together some top tips to ensure that your garden is thoroughly prepared to survive these upcoming wintery months. The level of protection required depends on where you live and how exposed your garden will be, be sure to check weather forecasts before you follow these simple steps so that you are not hit with a sudden frost.

Furniture

With the cold weather, rainfall and snow, which we will soon endure, it is a good idea to keep all of your garden furniture protected. Be sure to store your furniture in a waterproof location to prevent rot and rust, or if you are limited on space it is wise to purchase some waterproof sheets and cover them. Then you can bring them back out again when you are ready to re-use them once the weather has passed.

Lawn Maintenance

Before we get the snowfall and frosty weather now would be the perfect time to cut your grass, if you want it to look at its best for next year. Firstly rake any leaves from the lawn before you cut your grass. Secondly, when being cut raise your blades to ensure that you do not scalp your grass. Lawns like the soil to be free draining, so aerate using a machine or garden fork pushed in as far as you can, and then you can fill with a gritty compost which will aid drainage.

Ponds

Now that the temperature continues to drop, now is the perfect time to protect your pond in order to ensure plants and fish survive the winter. Decomposing leaves can make the water foul and block drainage, filters, and pumps. To save you the hassle, simply place a net over the pond which can be pegged down or simply weighed down with bricks, this makes it much easier to collect the leaves from the area. Be sure to remove any debris that has found its way into the pond before the water freezes as rotting foliage can be fatal to fish.

Greenhouses

Days are becoming shorter; nights are drawing in sooner, making light a valuable resource. Remove greenhouse shading to maximise the amount of sunlight attained by your plants. Its time to get out the hot water and a scrubber to clean the glass, this will get it sparkling clean! Use this opportunity to inspect the gutters as trapped leaves will prevent water from exiting the roof.

Artificial Grass

Replacing your lawn with artificial grass is becoming an increasingly popular choice for homeowners; with it requiring next to no maintenance all year round, and by the time the winter is over you will still have your luxuriant green garden that you started with!

Preparing your garden for the winter doesn’t have to be a chore, follow these simple steps and your garden will need little maintenance throughout these frosty months.