How to keep your garden in tip top shape over winter

It seems all over before it even started, but Christmas 2016 has officially come to an end. Wherever you celebrated this year, the chances are you enjoyed one too many drinks and had more food than your stomach could really handle. And with New Year just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to be thinking about what resolutions you’ll make come the New Year.

Let us help you with addressing this. It’s already predicted to be a cold and frosty start to 2017, with plenty of snow forecast all over the county. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to ensure your garden is well maintained during the freezing temperatures.

And there are a number of ways you can do just that. Take a look at some of our top winter tips you can make the most of over the coming months.

1. Leave the soil

Although you may be tempted to work with your existing soil, the cold temperatures will make life difficult – so it’s best to simply let it rest. Avoid compacting it down any further and don’t walk across it unless absolutely necessary.

2. Think frost protection

If you have any potted plants, bring them inside or put them in a greenhouse. This is vital with frosty weather arriving in the near future. If you can’t bring plants inside, protect them with a glass cloche, or by laying mulch to prevent soil freezing.

3. Have a good old tidy up

You won’t be too active over the winter months, making now the perfect time to give your garden a good clean up. Wipe down your gardening tools to stop them rusting, whilst removing grass clippings from the lawn will prevent weeds and disease.

4. Start pruning

Just because the warm summer months are well ahead of us, it doesn’t mean you’ll need to neglect your flowers. Start pruning, ideally on a dry, mild day. Take away dead or diseased branches, whilst reducing those plants and bushes that are somewhat overgrown.

5. Remember the lawn

Your lawn won’t need much attention over the winter months, but it could still do with the odd trim. Even though the sun’s not out for long, a string or mild days will help the grass grow considerably. Just remember to raise the blade height and only mow when dry.

6. Move your herbs indoors

Many homeowners love growing their own herbs now, and you should be no different. You can enjoy your own produce and have a fantastic complement for almost any meal. Indoor herb options include chives, mint, oregano, rosemary and thyme. There are a few vegetables you could grow inside too – beans, tomatoes, radishes etc.

7. Do some non-gardening jobs

You won’t need to do too much to your plants over the winter, so make the most of this time to take care of a few chores – cleaning the patio, varnishing the decking, or even clearing out the shed. There’s plenty to keep yourself busy with.

8. Plan for the summer

Now’s the time to start planning. What do you want your garden to look like this year? Perhaps you’re keen on a drastic change that’ll make it look even better than the summer before. As we enter 2017 you can start thinking about amazing ways to spruce the garden up.

At Millhouse Landscapes, we can provide a full garden landscape that’ll transform the appeal and give you a stunning outside area. Contact us today and speak to a member of the team, by calling 01732 590130.