Gardening Jobs in the Winter

Many people think that gardening comes to a halt from mid-November onwards. But there are in fact so many productive jobs that can be done. And you will reap the rewards in the new year.

Remember to wear the right clothes for the cold, damp weather, or you very likely won’t stay outside for long!

There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes!

Charlotte’s Nana (and other people I’m sure!)

Here are the five main areas to focus upon this winter:

1. Tidying up the leaves

   There will be lots and lots of leaves about, probably in every nook and cranny. Some people find them unsightly but maybe more importantly, decomposing leaves can provide enough nutrients for weeds to multiply.
   I recommend removing the majority and leaving some out of sight to encourage wildlife. Leaf removal can be done either with a leaf blower or by hand.
   Collected leaves can simply be popped into your green waste bin or, follow the advice of Monty Don, who in one episode of the BBC’s Gardeners’ World, encourages leaf collecting and then the turning of leaves into mulch.
   This is well worth doing as leaf mulch contains fantastic nutrients for your plants. Speak to your gardener about how to do this.
   Leaves of course can create a slippery surface, so even if you can’t remove them all, focus on potentially dangerous areas.

2. Weeding
   

   Did you know that weeds are seasonal? During a mild winter they will continue to grow in your garden. Regular weeding over the winter months will make the beds more manageable and attractive when Spring arrives.

3. Planting
   

   Winter is not normally associated with planting but bare rooted plants (roses are often supplied this way), are to be planted in early winter. Also, some shrubs can be moved and you can split and replant many different perennials.

4. Pruning
   

   Winter is a great time to prune a large number of plants. Bare stems make it much easier to spot diseased or misplaced stems.

5. General landscaping tasks

   Your gardener can advise you about any repairs that are needed such as loose paving stones, damaged fencing panels.  Additionally, they can advise you about putting up trellises for newly planted climbers, installing a water butt or compost heap.

I hope that this has been helpful.

Charlotte