Collaborative Post
Many of us forget that our garden could probably do with some attention. When it is wet, windy and sometimes the snow starts falling, it can be a little bit like out of sight, out of mind. Most people also assume that during the winter months plants lie dormant, which isn’t true. Your winter garden will need love and attention and here are a few maintenance tips for you.
Lawn
While it might feel like you are wasting your time, because in the summer your lawn is green and lush, the grass is still growing through the winter. Albeit a little slower. In the winter, the lawn is at risk of becoming compacted, meaning the roots won’t see and of the water that it needs. So make sure you have a great lawnmower, something like this https://www.mowers-online.co.uk/petrol-lawnmower will do the job.
Prune
It is the perfect time to cut things back. Winter is the best time to do this job actually because many people prune far too early. If you wait until August to prune anything that is dead, you’ll get the best from the plants the following year. Try to hold off pruning anything that blooms in late winter or early spring. If you have plants that flower during winter, you should ensure that they are being fed with fertilising water in between the rain to help them remain healthy.
Winter Veg
If you are smart with your timing and plant your veggies in the winter, they will be ready in the springtime. Try to choose an area that has a good amount of winter sun, as the seeds or young sprouts will need the warmth to germinate or grow. Great options are snow peas, spinach, green beans and peas. If you have milder winters, then you can grow broccoli, lettuce, onions, spring onions and turnips. Come spring, you’ll have a great haul.
Colour
You don’t have to suffer a winter without colour. There are some plants that flower beautifully through the winter. If you don’t have anything planted already, then you might want to wait until later autumn to plant them for next year. You can often pick up plants that are already flowering from local garden centres, and plant them straight away. You can get some great advice about winter blooms online or instore.
Mulch
Mulch plays a key role in keeping weeds back and protecting the base of plants too. If you use organic mulch, it will help to feed your plants as it breaks down over time. The perfect time to mulch is after it has rained – as you can pull the weeds out whole rather than leave roots behind.
And finally, keep an eye out for slugs and snails as they run rampant in the wet weather. Using a tray of beer in the soil is the most often used to trick to keep them off your plants. Alternatively, you can remove them by hand and pack them off to live somewhere else.