How to Prepare Your Garden for Winter

Summer might have disappeared, but that doesn’t mean you should allow your garden to fall by the wayside over the cooler months. If anything, it should be the busiest time in the garden, as you will need to remove the decaying vegetation of summer, whilst prepping the exterior for a chilly winter. Unsure where to start? Read these tips on how to prepare your garden for winter.

Clean Your Borders

Overcrowded perennials and incorrectly placed plants can detract from your exterior design. You should, therefore, remove the perennials during autumn, so your garden is prepared for winter and ready for spring. All you need to do is clean the garden borders before spreading over a fresh, thick compost layer, manure or bark chips.

Pond Nets

Don’t allow decomposing leaves to ruin your pond water or block your filters. Instead, catch any falling leaves or debris by adding a meshed net across your pond, which you can successfully pin down with bricks. You can then add the decomposing leaves to the compost heap. If your pond needs some structural attention, or even a revamp, now is the time to pay attention to your water feature from Water-garden.co.uk, so it will be ready to enjoy by spring.

Maintain Your Lawn

Does your lawn look a little unloved? Restore it to its former glory this autumn by removing thatch and moss with the help of a spring-tined rake, which you can add onto a compost heap. It’s also recommended to make deep holes in every 10cm of your garden using the prongs of a garden fork, as this can improve both aeration and drainage. It’s also the perfect time to lay new turf, which will look bright and brilliant once summer rolls back around.

Add Compost Heaps

Autumn is the perfect time to add compost heaps into your garden. The freshly laid compost will provide maximum benefit to the soil from the seasonal weather, as the ground is wet the nutrients enter the soil with ease. It is better to add the compost now rather than during spring, as the UK has experienced dryer springs in recent years.

Plant Beautiful Evergreens

Thanks to the cooler weather conditions and warmer soil, autumn provides the perfect season to fill in any border gaps. Start planting evergreens into your garden, so your exterior will look beautiful and smell fragrant all winter long, and be filled with life when the rest of the garden lays dormant.

Check the Essentials

Arduous weather conditions can cause significant damage to sheds, roof or decking if they are not well-maintained. You must, therefore, make sure that they are winter ready by applying appropriate treatments. For example, you should use a wood-preservative paint to exposed sheds, fencing or decking. You should also check your home for any loose tiles, which might need to be replaced to prevent an unwanted leak.

If you follow the above top tips, you could enjoy a bright and beautiful garden once spring is in bloom.