If there is one season which gardens don’t enjoy it is the winter. With the cold weather arriving and less sunlight, most gardens become dormant during this period. If you have a garden which you regularly tend to, then it is imperative that you take measures to leave the garden in great shape, before that cold snap arrives. If you put the groundwork in now, then once the warmer weather rolls around, you will be able to hit the ground running with new plants and fresh plans for your garden.
Read this guide on how you can prepare your space for those chilly months.
Clear Up Rotting Plants
Rotting plants can cause problems in the garden such as damage to the soil, which will make those warmer months much tricker for seed sowing. Spend some time removing all dead and finished plants.
Edge Out Your Garden
Cross contamination of plants is dangerous and this can also damage your chances of getting some strong growth in the warmer months. For this reason you may wish to start splitting up areas of the space using garden sleepers.
Burying most of the sleeper in the ground will help to prevent any issues around soil mixture. While insects and bugs will find it more difficult to move between these areas, in turn reducing your chances of seeing damage during the colder weather.
Preparing Your Soil
This time is not only about keeping your soil healthy, but also about preparing it for spring. Many wait until the warmer weather to do this, but the reality is that now is the optimum time to get your soil in great shape. Adding manure, bone meal and kelp are some of the best ways to give your soil the nutrients it needs. This will not only enable your soil to remain in better condition through winter, it will also mean you have fertile and nutrient rich soil from day one of spring.
Planting Cover Crops
Planting cover crops such as rye and clover will also help to protect your soil from eroding or breaking up. These crops should be planted about a month before the cold snap, and it will stop any frost from taking hold of the soil when it arrives.
Protecting Decking
If you have a timber deck out in the garden then this will also need some prep work. There is nothing that does damage to a timber deck like moisture, and that is of course what the cold weather will bring. Clean and seal your deck at least a month before the cold months arrive, and then cover it well with tarpaulin so that you can reduce the impact of the moisture on the timber.
The key to a great spring is making sure that you prepare well for the winter. This is not about closing the garden off for some months, it is about investing the time to get it ready for the warmer months ahead. Whether it is garden edging, preparing your plants or ensuring other spaces are protected, be sure to be proactive to avoid any issues.
