Winter Garden Maintenance Tips For The Upcoming Season
Winter is almost here, and with it comes shorter days and colder temperatures. While this can be a fun time of year for many of us, it can cause problems for our gardens without the right care.
Before the worst of the weather arrives, now is the ideal time to begin your winter garden maintenance and get your landscape prepared for the frost. Plants will have slowed down by now, but this does not mean your work is over.
Now is not the time to neglect your garden, but instead get it prepared for the upcoming season and ensure it is ready to bloom come spring.
At Creative Gardens & Driveways, we understand the importance of regular garden maintenance and offer professional services across the region to support homeowners. In this post, we are sharing our best winter garden maintenance tips to help your garden not only survive this season, but thrive.
Winter Garden Maintenance Tips: Getting Your Garden Ready For Frost
While winter is a slower season for your garden, it is not a time for neglect. Instead, the work you do now can prepare the garden for the worst of the weather, as well as ensure it will have a thriving return come spring.
Several essential winter garden maintenance tasks should be done now to keep your garden safe and protected, such as:
1) Tidy Up Before The Frost
The first thing to do as part of your winter garden maintenance is to tidy up the landscape. This may seem like a simple step, but it is essential for the health, safety and overall aesthetics of your landscape during the winter.
Autumn and winter can result in a lot of debris in your garden. Fallen leaves, broken branches and even dead plants need to be addressed before the weather gets colder. Leaving these organic materials to rot in your garden can lead to pests and rot, so they should be addressed as soon as possible.
Perform regular tidy-ups throughout your winter garden maintenance routines, taking the time to clear fallen leaves, cut back branches and remove dead perennials and annuals.
During your tidy up, also address your garden tools and equipment. Now is a good time to clean all tools and store them in a dry space, such as a garden shed or garage. The same can also be done for your garden decor and lighting, to ensure they withstand the harsh weather conditions ahead.
Tidying up makes it easier to keep on top of your winter garden maintenance as the season progresses, which is why it is not only the first step in this process, but an ongoing task for gardeners.
2) Protect Your Plants
While the weather is still mild, you should take precautions to protect your plants from the frost and snow.
The most sensitive and vulnerable plants, such as new seedlings and container plants, can be brought inside to protect them from the harsh temperature drops. Alternatively, use a greenhouse or similar insulated space. Plants that need to stay outdoors can be protected with fleece covers or organic mulch.
Mulching is a vital part of winter garden maintenance and can be done all year round to protect your plants. Mulch not only provides essential nutrients to your plants but also helps retain moisture and soil temperature. Using wood chips or compost can be a great way to protect your plants during the winter, and is an easy way to keep your garden safe at this time.
For more advice regarding winter planting and garden care, based on the time of year, see our Seasonal Gardening Calendar for Homeowners: What To Plant, Prune And Prepare Throughout The Year.
3) Look After Your Lawn And Driveway
As well as caring for your plants, your lawn needs love during your winter garden maintenance. Ahead of the first frost, aerate the lawn, paying particular attention to the most compacted areas.
Once the frost does arrive, avoid walking on the grass as this can cause damage and lead to long-term issues. Now may also be a good time to add winter-specific fertiliser or lawn feed to provide additional protection to your grass.
For hardscape areas, such as paving and driveways, make sure you have de-icer ready, as this will be an essential part of your ongoing winter garden maintenance. Salt or gravel can also be used to prevent slips when snow begins to fall, but this needs to be used cautiously based on the materials of your driveway.
If you are unsure about what paving is best for your garden design, see our post on How To Combine Garden Design With Hardscaping: A Guide For Cheshire Gardens.
4) Caring For Wildlife During Winter
Winter garden maintenance is not just an opportunity to care for your own garden, but the wider environment too. During your cleaning and maintenance routines, consider how you can make your garden more supportive of wildlife at this time.
A well-maintained garden can support biodiversity, and with some additional steps, you can create a wildlife haven throughout the winter.
Some of the easiest, yet most effective, ways to care for wildlife during winter garden maintenance include:
- Add bird feeders and fresh water sources throughout the winter
- Create habitats with logs or piles of leaves, ensuring to refresh these organic materials periodically to prevent rot and pests
- Leave some seed heads in your planting displays and containers, as these provide food for birds and insects. We recommend some of the best plants for wildlife in our post on Wildlife-Friendly Garden Design.
5) Plan Ahead For Spring
The quieter season gives you more time to plan ahead. While you perform your winter garden maintenance, you can also use this time to take stock of your current landscape and the changes you want to make in the future.
Consider the garden design you want to implement and the landscaping projects that will help you achieve these goals. You can do research on plants, garden design trends, and even local landscaping companies that can help you get there.
While this is a quieter time for many outdoor projects, landscaping companies like Creative Gardens & Driveways are still in operation. We can still provide support and landscaping services throughout the winter, whether you need professional winter garden maintenance, paving installations, or planting inspiration.
We can work with you to determine the best course of action for your upcoming garden design project and help you achieve the garden of your dreams.
Conclusion
Winter is a slower season for your garden, but it remains a crucial period of time for garden maintenance. The work you do now will prepare your garden for the upcoming seasons and can help the landscape thrive next year.
As a leading landscaping company, Creative Gardens & Driveways understands the value of winter garden maintenance and ongoing care. Some of the most important tasks to do at this time of year include regular tidying of the landscape, protecting plants, and caring for your lawn and hardscape areas.
Winter can also be an ideal time to plan ahead and look into your future garden design. Whether you are seeking inspiration, quotes or advice, we are here to help.
Contact Us Today
To learn more about our services or to request a quote, please contact the team today.
FAQs
What garden maintenance should I do before the first frost?
Before the first frost arrives, you need to ensure you have tidied up your garden, removed fallen leaves and debris, and protected the most delicate plants. Additional tasks can include adding a layer of mulch to your planting spaces for protection and aerating compacted lawn areas.
Can I still plant during the winter?
Yes, some plants can thrive during the winter months, such as hardy perennials and evergreen shrubs. You can also plant bare-root trees and hedges during winter while they’re dormant, and wait for them to bloom later in the year.
How can I protect my driveway and paths from ice without damaging the garden?
It is recommended that you avoid using traditional rock salt, as it can harm nearby plants and grass. Instead, opt for eco-friendly de-icing products or apply a layer of decorative gravel or grit to improve traction on hardscape areas. Regularly clearing snow and debris also prevents slips and keeps your driveway looking neat all winter long.
