This is a collaborative post
As winter arrives, it’s easy to forget about your garden, especially when the cold weather makes outdoor tasks less inviting. However, taking time to tend to your garden during the winter months can help keep it healthy and set it up for success when spring arrives. Here are five practical ways to make sure you don’t neglect your garden this winter.
- Tidy and Protect
Winter can bring fallen leaves, dead plants, and debris that, if left unchecked, may encourage pests and diseases. Clear away any leaves and dead plant material from flower beds and borders to reduce the risk of fungal infections.
Additionally, protect vulnerable plants from the harsh winter cold. Use horticultural fleece to cover plants that may be sensitive to frost or move potted plants to a sheltered location like a porch or greenhouse.
- Prepare for Spring
Although winter seems like a time to put the garden to bed, it’s a great opportunity to plan for the next growing season. Now is the ideal time to plant spring-flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, crocuses, and tulips.
Winter is also the perfect time to prune shrubs that have finished flowering. By removing dead or damaged wood, you encourage healthy growth and a tidy shape for the coming spring.
- Winter Colour and Interest
Your garden doesn’t have to look bare in winter. There are plenty of ways to keep it visually appealing during the colder months. Add winter-flowering plants, such as pansies, hellebores, and winter-flowering heathers, to brighten up your garden. These hardy plants will provide colour and interest even on the darkest days.
In addition to flowers, consider incorporating evergreen shrubs or ornamental grasses. These plants add structure and texture to your garden, offering year-round interest.
- Extend Your Living Space
Don’t let the cold keep you indoors. Make your garden an extension of your living space, even during winter. Add outdoor lighting, a fire pit, or heated seating areas to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Use outdoor Christmas lights to add some ambience to the area by stringing them along fences, wrapping them around trees, or draping them over structures to bring a festive glow to your garden. Add blankets and cushions to seating areas to make your outdoor space more comfortable.
- Wildlife-Friendly Haven
Your garden can also provide vital support to wildlife during the winter months. Birds, hedgehogs, and other creatures need extra help when food is scarce and the weather turns cold. Leave seed heads on plants to provide food for birds, or install a bird feeder stocked with seeds or suet. You can also create a hedgehog hibernation spot by piling leaves or logs in a quiet corner.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post