Here is our winter garden checklist for preparing your garden for winter. We tend to not spend as much time in our gardens during the winter. However with the cold weather we do still need to take care of it to keep it in good condition ready for the spring. Here are some tips and advice to protect your garden over the winter. Keep your Patios and Paths Clear These can become slippery in the cold weather with the build up of fallen leaves, moss, frost and maybe a sprinkling of snow. Blow or sweep the area regularly to clear away any fallen leaves and debris and try to keep the area clean. Scatter some salt or grit when frosty to avoid the area becoming slippery. Container Plants You need to protect your containers plants from the cold weather as the frosts can damage the roots. Move them against a sheltering wall and cluster them together for added protection. Add fleece or straw to the containers. To avoid waterlogging from all the rain you may need to lay the posts on their side. Border Plants These are able to fair better than your container plants but they still need a little TLC. Add compost or bark chippings to your beds to feed and insulate the soil. If the snow does come knock it off from your plants as the lack of light and weight can cause severe damage. Trees Your trees and shrubs should be ok over the winter if they are established. For less established or smaller trees or shrubs you can put them in fleece bags for extra protection. Add some bark chippings around the roots. Now is not the time for any pruning or trimming as it could cause damage in the cold weather. Lawns Try to stay off the grass as much as possible during the winter as walking on a frosted lawn could damage the grass. Protect Your Outdoor Water Supply Try to avoid burst pipes on your outdoor taps by making sure that faucets are drained and fully insulated. This also includes any water features you have. Remember to pack away any sprinkler systems you have ready for the summer. Tools Before packing away your tools for the winter give them a good clean. Carry out any maintenance needed at this point so they are ready for use in the spring. Garden Furniture Cover up your garden furniture to avoid any rust or mould. If you can move them into a garage or shed for full protection. Wildlife Now is a really important time to help the wildlife. You can support them by putting out nuts and seeds on bird tables or feeders. You could even make a bug hotel. So that is your winter garden checklist. Time to wrap up warm and get prepared.
Winter Care Tips For Your Lawn
Here are our winter care tips for your lawn so that it will be looking its best when spring arrives. Avoid Walking On The Grass A big one is to avoid walking on the grass if you can. If the grass is wet and waterlogged walking on it could cause compaction. Your lawn needs a good distribution of air pockets to thrive so you want to avoid compacting the grass which stops the grass from growing. If you get to spring and find that there are puddles on the lawn then use a garden fork to aerate the grass. If there is frost on the grass avoid walking on it as you will break the grass and leave brown patches. Once the spring does arrives if you have been left with patchy or brown areas on your lawn you can rectify this by applying a grass seed or patching in turfs to the damaged area. Get The Leaves Off The Lawn Rake or use a blower to remove any fallen leaves from your lawn as they can block the light to the grass and prevent moisture getting through which can lead to bare patches appearing. Leaves can also encourage disease to the grass. Not only leaves but try to keep the grass area clear if you can over the winter by removing any furniture or toys that are laying around. Remove Any Moss If you see moss on your grass, when the conditions are favourable, gently use a rake to drag it off. Once raked use a fork to make lots of holes into your grass and then brush in some compost or horticultural sand to improve drainage on your lawn. Stop Mowing It is best to avoid mowing in the winter to avoid any damage to your lawn. Only mow if the conditions are favourable and it is necessary and ensure that the cut is around 25% higher than during the summer. With any temperatures below minus 5 degrees your lawn should stop growing and will not need mowing. Fertilise in Spring Wait until the spring to add a treatment to your lawn. Spring and Autumn are the best seasons for treating your grass. These winter care tips for your lawn will help you to take good care of your lawn. Spring will stimulate new growth and your lawn will start to recover from the winter.
Getting Your Garden Ready For Winter
Getting your garden ready for Winter. If you would like your garden to look great in the Spring then carrying out some work in the Winter to prepare your garden for the cold spell will really help it. Here are some tasks to consider undertaking: 1. Give your paving and paths a good clean. Take off all the furniture and planters, clear out all the leaves, give it a good brush down and a clean with some soapy water and a stiff broom. If you have a pressure washer this will make the job a lot quicker and easier for you. 2. Give your decking a good brush down, firstly take off any chairs or tables or planters, then getting into the corners to remove any dead leaves or debris. Finally give it a wash down with some soapy water and a stiff broom or a pressure washer if you have one available. 3. Take a walk around your garden and take a good look around the boundary of your fences to check that the posts are still in good order and the fence panels do not need repair or for any to be replaced. 4. Lighting will really brighten up your garden in the Winter so is something to consider adding if not already there. The nights draw in fairly early now. 5. For your lawn go over the entire area with a rake to remove thatch and moss allowing it to breath and grow. Aerate and give it an Autumn feed. 6. Trim your hedges before the frost hits. 7. For your trees remove any dead or damaged branches. 8. Tidy up your borders by removing any weeds or dead foliage and leaves. Remove any annual plants and cut back herbaceous perennials. 9. If you have a compost bin now would be a good time to clear it out and spread it across your beds ready for the Spring. This also helps to make the beds look a little more presentable over the Winter. 10. Now is the time to plant out your Spring bulbs before the Winter kicks in. Once Spring arrives your garden will be alive with colour. 11. Take a look at your shed or greenhouse to see if the wood needs a coat of paint or any repairs need to be carried out. Now is a good time to give it a tidy up and clean inside and get all your tools in order. Consider adding shelving to make things easier to find. 12. For any delicate plants wrap them up in fleece ready for the Winter or move them to the greenhouse or conservatory. 13. If you have a pond try to keep it clear of leaves and place a ball in there to float on the surface to stop it freezing over completely. 14. If snow does arrive, and it seems to be more likely each year, then knock the snow that is resting on the leaves of your plants to try to prevent severe damage. If you are thinking of a new project for your garden like adding in a decking area in a sunny corner or a patio area to create a great entertaining space then now is a good time to get the work carried out whilst the garden isn’t getting as much use. If you would like to discuss please email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413 to arrange a free consultation and a quote for the works.
Winter Garden Tips
Now the winter has arrived we mustn’t forget about our gardens. They still need our care and there are some tasks to be carried out. Below are some winter garden tips to keep your garden healthy and looking good in the winter and have it ready for when spring approaches: 1. Check your fences, gates and other structures for any wear and tear. 2. Treat timber structures with preservative and stain. This needs to be carried out during a dry spell. 3. Clean your sheds and greenhouses and have a general tidy up of the storage of your equipment. 4. Get together all your tools and give them a good clean so that they are ready for use in the spring. 5. Clean and dry lawnmowers and hedge-trimmers for the winter. 6. Clean and sharpen secateurs and loppers. 7. Check that greenhouse heaters are working. 8. Ensure all stand pipes and irrigation lines are drained to avoid any damage from freezing. 9. Put lagging around outdoor taps. 10. Install some garden lighting. 11. As it is a quieter time for the garden plan ahead what you would like to do with your garden for the spring. 12. Now is a garden time to consider getting a landscaper in to complete a project as contractors aren’t as busy now as they are in the spring and summer so you can get the work carried out at a very convenient time for you. 13. Cover large tubs with bubblewrap to avoid them cracking. 14. Avoid walking on lawns on frosty mornings as it can damage the grass. 15. If the winter is mild you may need to still mow the lawn as it will continue to grow in temperatures above 5C. 16. Remove fallen leaves from lawns before they block out light and moisture to the grass. 17. Repair any damaged lawn areas with turf. 18. Brush any heavy snow from trees and shrubs to avoid breakage. 19. Remove algae from paths as they can make it slippery. 20. Add some mulch to your garden. In the winter it can help towards protecting roots and bulbs from frost. 21. Check on tender plants to ensure winter protection is still in place. 22. Prune apple and pears. 23. Prune acers, birches and vines. 24. Alpines can be sown from seed this month. Place a sheet of glass over the sown area to protect it from excessive wet. 25. Cut back faded herbaceous perennials. 26. Plant roses. 27. Feed the wildlife in your garden.
