Jobs for the garden this winter

Winter may be known as the season for snuggling up indoors, but there’s plenty to do outdoors to get your garden spring ready. Completing vital prep during the colder months can make all the difference to the health of your garden, and make life easier and blooms more beautiful come spring. Here we share five gardening tasks you should tackle over winter…

Get composting

Compost is an essential supply for gardens big and small. Compost returns valuable nutrients to the soil to improve its quality, texture and fertility, leaving you to enjoy better, healthier displays all year round. You don’t have to spend a fortune on quality compost however.

You can make your own compost rather easily, and the best time to start doing just that is over winter. The cooler temperatures provide the ideal conditions to start or maintain a compost heap.

Tidy up your space

There’s plenty to get on with in your winter garden, with most tasks representing manageable tidy up jobs. Keep on top of weeding and leaf clearing to maintain a space that will come to life in the months ahead.

Build those beds

With plant maintenance minimal over the winter months, now is a great time to tackle some of the jobs you didn’t have time for during spring and summer.

Prepare for new plant life by building garden beds or replacing ones that have seen better days. Raised beds are surprisingly easy to build and can be made from upcycled materials (like pallets) to reduce garden waste further.

Hard prune those trees and hedges

If your garden is filled with trees, deciduous hedges and shrubs, November to March is the ideal period for pruning. Most varieties – other than conifers – will benefit from a hard prune, a process which encourages growth after the plant exits its dormant stage in early spring.

Protect, preserve and promote plant life

Some varieties need a more delicate touch during winter. Many plants require protection from the harsher winter weather. An easy way to insulate your beds and borders is by adding a layer of organic mulch. Mulch protects the roots of the plant from freezing, and can also keep some vegetables and herbs warm enough to continue harvesting all season long.

Get ahead for spring too by organising your seeds and planting schedule, checking the condition of stored bulbs and tubers, and taking cuttings for propagation – propagated plants make excellent Christmas gifts!