As soon as the clocks go back signifying the end of British summertime, you can guarantee two things: shorter days and colder weather.
Sadly, neither one of those seasonal traits lend themselves well to gardening and, while the former can be depressing, the latter can have a particularly damning effect on the green, green grass of home – specifically your home.
Ensure your green fingers don’t come down with frostbite this winter by implementing these fool-proof tips into your garden defence.
Bring Out Your Dead
Wintertime is the perfect opportunity to give your garden a spring clean. Or should that be a winter clean… either way, you get the idea.
Dead plants, weeds and leaves can carry disease and fungus that can prove damaging to other healthy plants nearby. This is particularly applicable to spent annuals and vegetable plants.
Meanwhile, pests can also thrive amongst dead, rotting vegetation, which too can cause subsequent damage to your garden.
Removing any plants that have past their expiration date should remove the problem and any possibility of springtime issues down the line.
Get the Drinks In
If a drop in temperature is predicted in advance, pre-empting the big freeze and watering your plants ahead of time can pay dividends once the cold spell hits.
Sub-zero temperatures can cause the ground to freeze, preventing water from permeating the surface and ultimately reaching the roots.
Getting ahead of the curve allows your plants to soak up the moisture while it still can, which can be particularly helpful when it comes to annuals and potted plants.
Speaking of potted plants…
All Gone to Pot
Terracotta plant pots can make for an aesthetically pleasing addition to your garden. Unfortunately, terracotta isn’t invincible and this is never more evident than during the wintertime.
To prevent your pots from cracking by gathering them up and placing them together, ideally in an unexposed area of the garden that’s sheltered from the elements, such as near the house.
For an additional layer of protection, you can even go one step further and wrap them up with hessian or horticultural fleece for enhanced insulation.
The combination of swaddling your plant pots with heat retentive materials and grouping them together in a huddled formation should help ensure they survive the winter unscathed.
Mulch Ado About Nothing
As noted above, the harsh winter conditions can make the surface hard and difficult for water to permeate. To counteract this inevitability, mulching over the autumn/winter can help the soil to retain water and regulate temperature, protecting your plants in the process.
What’s more, adding mulch to your flowerbeds will help keep root temperatures stable, preventing churning and heaving, while it can also inhibit weed growth. Meanwhile, as the mulch breaks down, it naturally deposits additional organic nutrients into the soil.
For more tips on autumn and winter garden protection, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 0800 111 4958 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.
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