Winter is upon us, which means it’s time to make sure our gardens are prepared for the colder months to come. Here are our top tips to prepare your garden for winter and keep it in great condition!

Do some weeding

We all know that weeds can become a nuisance if they are allowed to go wild. It’s best to tackle them at the beginning of winter so they don’t pose as much of an issue when spring arrives. When you’re weeding, make sure that they come out at the root, particularly where they have come up in between paving. You can opt for weed killer, or something kinder to the environment. You can make a simple eco-friendly mixture of white vinegar (1 litre), salt (3 tablespoons), and soap (3 teaspoons), adding this to a spray bottle. This is effective at killing weeds as the acetic acid of the vinegar disrupts the cells of the plant, the salt desiccates the tissue, and the soap helps the mixture stick to the plant.

Plant your spring bulbs

Now is a great time to start planting your spring bulbs so that your garden will look beautiful and colourful in a few months’ time. Some great spring bulbs to plant include daffodils, bluebells, crocuses and tulips. You can also consider investing in a bulb planter to make planting a breeze. This Faithfull Countryman Hand Bulb Planter is ideal for bulbs and bedding plants. It has a steel core cutter, with a deeply serrated cutting edge, that helps penetrate packed ground cleanly.

Give your grass a winter cut

Before the worst of the weather begins, make sure to give your grass a cut. If you allow snow and frost to settle on long grass, this can stunt growth and damage the roots. You can also give your hedges one last trim while you’re at it to keep things looking neat until spring.

Welcome in birds

Food and water can be hard to come by for birds in the winter months. Their usual supplies of water can sometimes freeze over, and bugs and berries are often in short supply. So, it is always a good idea to maintain a bird bath for them and provide some food during the cold months. Suet balls are a good option, like these Peckish Extra Goodness Suet Balls 4 pack which provide birds with high amounts of protein and energy.

Protect your wood

If your wooden fence or garden shed hasn’t had a lick of protective paint recently, now is the perfect time. The rainy weather and cold conditions of the coming months can wear away at wood which is exposed to the elements. Apply a generous layer of protective paint or varnish to keep your shed and fences in top condition. This Bondex Long Life UV Protect Woodstain is ideal, providing long-lasting protection against weathering and UV degradation.

Dig up your annual flowers

Up-rooting your annual flowers is a job worth doing which will reduce the amount of time you need to spend tending to your garden over the winter period. You can add your annual flowers to your compost pile so that they don’t go to waste. If you are unsure how to go about composting, you can check out our simple guide here.

Clear up fallen leaves

Fallen leaves should be cleared from your grass before heavy rainfall or snow arrives. If they aren’t removed, the leaves can end up starving the grass of oxygen, resulting in damp patches and potentially mould and rotting. You can clear the leaves by using a rake or a leaf blower. The BOSCH UniversalGardenTidy 3000 Garden Vacuum & Leaf Blower is good if you are looking for a user-friendly, affordable option. It blows, vacuums and shreds, so you can clear away garden debris in no time. The quick-release mechanism makes it easy to switch between modes, with no tools required. It also features ProSilence technology, so you won’t disturb your neighbours.

If you have a higher budget, you can consider this Makita UB001G 40v Max XGT Brushless Cordless Garden Leaf Blower which has a cruise control lever allows you to lock the variable speed control trigger at the desired power level. It also features a brushless motor which delivers high air volume and speed. Once you’ve gathered the leaves, you can add these to your compost pile.

Protect your seasonal plants

Some plants are not strong enough to survive the winter weather, but this doesn’t mean they need to perish. All you need to do is pop them into pots and bring them indoors to the warmth. Keeping them indoors away from the frost will help them survive the winter. Plants that should be moved inside for the winter include gladiolus and dahlias.

Add mulch

For your plants which are staying outdoors, you can help to protect them by adding organic materials. Cover your garden beds with mulch or wood chippings to help prevent plants from freezing. This can also help reduce soil erosion caused by rainfall.

Cover up garden furniture

Garden furniture should be protected from the elements. If you don’t have a shed or garage for storage, you can cover your furniture with a plastic protector. You should also ensure that the furniture is securely fixed down in case of windy weather.

Keep your patios clean

If your garden has paved surfaces, these are important to maintain. Dirt, debris and chemicals can get into the cracks between paving and cause damage. Pressure washing is an effective way of keeping your paving clean. However, make sure you keep your pressure washer at a 45-degree angle and don’t follow the joining lines with the water jet. This will prevent damage to your paving slabs. If you don’t have a pressure washer, the KARCHER K4 Power Control Pressure Washer is a good option. It has a wide range of water pressures to choose from, and it features an integrated detergent tank.

We hope that you have found this blog helpful, and you are ready to get your garden prepared for winter! You can view our wide range of garden tools and equipment on our website here. Also, don’t forget to follow us for the latest updates over on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Tags: garden, gardening, gardeningtools, gardentips, gardentools, outdoors, powertools, tools, winter