Preparing Your Garden for Winter: Tips from Our Horticultural Experts
As we near the end of November, winter’s grip has already made itself known with frosts and heavy rain. If your garden has felt the effects of recent weather, now is the time to prepare for the colder months ahead. With the right care, you can protect your plants, maintain the health of your soil, and even help local wildlife through the harsh winter.
Here are our top tips to get your garden winter-ready, even after floods and frosts.
Protecting Your Plants
Dry out waterlogged areas: If recent floods have left your soil waterlogged, improve drainage by forking over compacted areas. Add grit or sharp sand to heavy soils, especially in borders, to help prevent future flooding.
Mulching for frost protection: Apply a fresh layer of mulch, such as bark or leaf mould around the base of plants. This insulates the soil and shields roots from freezing temperatures. Make sure the soil isn’t already frozen before mulching.
Wrap tender plants: Protect delicate plants like cordylines, tree ferns, and potted shrubs with fleece. If frost is forecast, these layers can make the difference between thriving plants and frost damage.
Supporting Wildlife in Winter
Winter can be tough for birds, insects, and small mammals. A few simple actions can turn your garden into a safe haven:
Food and water for birds: Top up feeders with high-energy seeds, suet, and mealworms, and clean them regularly to prevent disease. Add fresh water daily to birdbaths, especially on frosty mornings.
Bug hotels and log piles: Create or refresh a bug hotel to give insects like ladybirds and bees a place to shelter. A simple log pile works just as well for attracting beetles and other beneficial bugs.
Leave some wild areas: Resist the urge to clear everything. Patches of long grass, seed heads, and undisturbed soil provide food and shelter for wildlife.
Keeping Your Garden Attractive
Winter doesn’t mean your garden has to look lifeless. Here’s how to add interest and beauty:
Add winter colour: Plant hellebores, winter-flowering pansies, or cyclamen for vibrant blooms during the cold months.
Berries and texture: Include plants like cotoneaster or holly for striking berries, and ornamental grasses for movement and texture.
Lighting: Highlight paths and structures with simple outdoor lighting or lanterns. These touches bring warmth and charm to dark evenings, creating a beautiful view to enjoy from the comfort of your home.
After the Frosts: Check for Damage
Once frost has settled, inspect your plants and structures for any damage:
Prune wisely: Gently remove blackened leaves or frost-damaged stems to prevent rot and disease. For shrubs, delay major pruning until spring to minimise stress and give them the best chance to recover.
Repair and replace: Check garden structures like fences, trellises, and raised beds for storm damage, and fix weak points before winter storms take hold.
A Winter Garden is a Garden That Lasts
With these tips, you can protect your garden and support its ecosystem through winter, no matter how challenging the weather gets. Visit us for a wide range of winter essentials, from frost protection to bird feeders, and expert advice tailored to your garden’s needs.
Let’s make this season one of preparation, protection, and care—for your plants, your soil, and the wildlife that shares your space.
