Taking the necessary steps to prevent your plants and garden furniture from being damaged will help you avoid costly upgrades once the colder months depart.

This guide will help you protect your garden for winter and add some festive spirit to your yard. From protecting delicate plants to planting winter-hardy vegetables, you’ll save lots of time and money preparing your garden for spring.

1. Tidy Up Your Garden

Removing any debris and old or rotted furniture from your garden is key before December comes.

Any old furniture can be replaced in the spring when your garden is ready to be used again. Then, remove any dead plants to prevent pests and diseases from spreading to healthy plants; annuals can breed harmful organisms.

If weeds are left to seed, they can spread quickly, requiring a lot of gardening work in the spring. Pull out any weeds you find, trim back perennials, and prune shrubs to reduce the risk of damage from heavy snowfall.

2. Protect Delicate Plants

If you’ve spent a lot of time and money on growing expensive plants, then the last thing you want is all of your hard work to accumulate to nothing in winter.

Luckily, there are a few ways to keep your precious plants safe. For flowers and shrubs that are sensitive to frost, wrap them in cloth or burlap to create a barrier against the cold. Cloche covers can also be placed over smaller plants to trap heat.

Fig trees, hydrangeas, and roses are more susceptible to cold damage than other species, so wrap the plant or branches in burlap, leaving room for circulation. You can bring any potted plants indoors or place them in a gardening shed.

3. Plant Winter-Ready Vegetables

If you have a vegetable patch in your garden, why not make the most of the cold weather by planting winter-ready vegetables?

Crops such as winter cabbage, carrots, Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, and leeks are resistant to the cold and perfect for harvesting in the winter. Leafy greens like collard greens and chard are also a great choice.

Enriching the soil with compost or manure beforehand can encourage healthy growth. Raised beds can also provide excellent drainage, preventing waterlogging during heavy rain.

4. Mulch Beds to Keep Roots Warm

Another great way to insulate your plants for the winter is by mulching the soil.

Adding a thick layer of mulch around the base of your plants can help to insulate the soil and the roots. You can use bark, straw, or shredded leaves; this reduces the chance of freeze-thaw cycles.

5. Prep Your Lawn for Winter

Preparing your lawn before winter hits can help to prevent plant diseases and encourage thick growth in the spring.

For this, we suggest raking away any fallen leaves and aerating the lawn to prevent soil from becoming compacted. This will help improve drainage and allow nutrients to reach the grassroots.

Mowing your lawn and applying a high-potassium fertiliser at the end of autumn can promote root health. Applying pre-emergent weed control can also prevent weed seeds from germinating during the winter.

6. Drain Hoses and Outdoor Taps

Any water left in garden hoses and taps during the winter can freeze and expand, leading to cracked faucets and burst hoses.

To drain your hose, hold one end higher up, allowing the water to drain from the tube. The hose can then be coiled and stored in a safe place. For outdoor taps, turn off the water supply and allow any remaining water to drain out.

You can insulate any outdoor taps by covering them with a faucet foam cover.

7. Clean and Store Garden Tools

Garden tools, especially ones designed with metal, are at risk of corroding or rusting when left outside.

Place gardening tools in a secure shed or bring them indoors for the winter. If your tools have already succumbed to rust, apply a bit of vinegar to them and scrub away the affected areas with a wire brush or steel wool.

To keep moving parts or wooden tools in working condition, apply mineral oil or vegetable oil to the joints.

8. Add a Touch of Festivity to Your Garden

What better way to get the holiday celebrations started than adding a touch of festivity to your garden?

Decorating trees, shrubs, and fences with Christmas decorations and outdoor lights can add festive cheer to the space. You could also plant evergreen trees to keep your garden looking lush in the winter.

Winter-blooming flowers, like hellebores and snowdrops, are perfect for the jolly season.

Upgrade Your Garden with Beesley and Fildes

If your garden is an integral part of your home, then it deserves the best care.

At Beesley and Fildes, we provide a wide range of garden and landscaping products to keep your yard in great condition.

From garden decorative items to durable paving slabs, you can uplift the look and feel of your yard in time for spring.