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5 Ways To Get Your Garden Ready For Winter

Winter is coming, so get ahead of the game now to ensure your garden is ready for the winter season, and for when spring rolls around!
5 Ways To Get Your Garden Ready For Winter

The air is getting colder, the days are getting shorter, and the leaves are turning orange. Summer is pretty much behind us for another year, and now is the time to begin preparing your garden for winter. It can be incredibly tempting to allow your garden to just ‘do its thing’ over the winter, and worry about it when spring rolls around. However, if you want to ensure that your garden stays looking great for when you begin using it again next year, there are steps you can take now to minimise future hassle and ensure that your garden continues to thrive. 

Sweep Up Those Leaves

Whether you have a lawn, artificial grass or paving, removing leaves and other debris before winter hits is a good idea. It can be difficult to do this if you wait until winter or beyond because, by that time, leaves will have begun to deteriorate resulting in piles of mush that can be more of a pain to remove! Furthermore, clearing leaves from paths and other areas of traffic will make these areas safer, as leaves can become slippery when they freeze or get wet.

To save time, wait until all the leaves have fallen off the trees in your garden before you sweep them up. Using a good quality brush with some soapy water should do the job, although pressure washers can make things much easier. If you choose the latter option, just remember to use a low powered setting so you don’t damage your surfaces (it’s also worth checking that your surfaces are pressure-washer friendly, too).

Prepare For Weeds

Although many gardeners will associate weeding with sunnier, warmer months, weeds are unfortunately not afraid of the cold, wet or dark. Indeed, they will likely continue to grow throughout winter, and unless you want to embark on some winter weeding (which we’re fairly sure you won’t!), it’s a good idea to put some preventative measures in place now, before the weather gets too bad. There are plenty of weed killers on the market, or you can put down weed membrane for a more permanent solution. Get ahead of it now so you don’t have to bring in the machete to cut down the jungle come spring!

Protect Your Plants

Many plants are not able to survive by themselves during winter, so it’s important to take measures to keep them warm and protected during the cold months. The first thing to do is pull up any plants that are showing signs of disease or infestation problems, as they could corrupt the surrounding plant life over winter. Healthy plants should be covered in a coche, which can either be bought or made, with younger / more sensitive plants needing individual fleeces / covering for further protection. Of course, if you have a greenhouse, moving all your plants there will be the best option, but coverings are perfectly valid for those who don’t have that luxury!

Maintain Your Garden Equipment 

Now winter is on its way, you’re not going to have much use for your shears, spades, forks, and so on. While it might be tempting to throw them in the shed and forget about them, you’ll want to give them some attention beforehand to ensure they are in good condition and ready to use once spring arrives. Tools used for cutting and trimming should be sharpened and cleaned, whereas other tools should be thoroughly cleaned. It will prevent rust from setting in over winter, as well as prevent bacteria from growing on the metal which could be harmful to your plants. If you rely on a lawnmower, it might also be a good idea to get it serviced, although this shouldn’t be necessary if you only use it occasionally, or don’t have a large area to mow. 

Protect The Wildlife 

While we might not want to spend time outdoors during the winter, wildlife do not have that option and many animals will struggle through winter. Stock up on bird seed, and also make yourself aware of the other kinds of food that squirrels, hedgehogs, badgers, and other common garden animals can eat. Although helping animals out with food can be a great help, be careful not to leave too much out as they may become reliant on that supply, which can be damaging to the ecosystem as a whole.

Remember to leave out fresh water, too, as this is just as important as food! If you have a pond, chances are it will freeze over during winter. However, by pouring boiling water over the ice, you can create a drinking hole for animals to use as they please. Do not break the ice with a hammer or mallet, as this can harm animals living in the pond. 

Providing shelter can also be a great help as long as it is safe and there is no risk of the animal becoming trapped. 

Forward Builders Supplies 

Based in Ellesmere Port, Forward Builders are a leading supplier of building and landscaping materials in the North West. We deliver high-quality, competitively priced building materials across the UK, with free delivery available based on location and weight. We have all the tools and resources you need to get your garden ready for winter, as well as the materials for your landscaping projects when spring rolls around. For more information about our products, feel free to browse our website or call the store on 033 0055 2500.

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