Garden Tasks in Winter
Great plants start with great soil, so that’s one of the main focuses in winter. Give something back to the hardworking earth!
DIG IN!
Soil improvement is the number one task in December. Clear the soil and dig in plenty of compost or other organic matter – check the condition of your homemade compost – it will be dark, crumbly and earthy smelling when it’s ready. Rotted leaf mould, green waste, or spent mushroom compost also work well. If using well rotted manure, make sure it has been stored under cover so it’s not full of weed seeds. This helps the soil replenish nutrients and be able to survive the stresses of winter. Turn the soil if sandy. Or if you have heavy clay soil…you can ‘cheat’ by piling thick organic mulches on the soil each autumn, and let the worms do the work. If waterlogging is a problem, dig gravel or grit into the soil.
And…DIG OUT!
It’s worth digging out perennial weeds like bindweed now, before they disappear and pop back up with a vengeance next year.
TAKE COVER!
Herbs like bay, myrtle and French tarragon would benefit from fleecy protection in the winter, especially if they’re in a windy position. Line the inside of your greenhouse with bubble polythene to protect your plants from cold. Large bubble types trap a greater volume of air, so insulate more efficiently. Use some natural insulation around plants that are borderline hardy. Deep mulch with bark around the base of vulnerable border plants such as fuchsias, lavatera and penstemons.
KEEP AN EYE OUT!
If you have plants under glass or that you’ve brought indoors to overwinter, check for signs of pests and disease, and make sure the plants don’t dry out. If the weather permits, give them a quick dose of fresh air which helps the plants stay healthy and not grow too soft. Indoor cyclamen should be placed in full sun in a cool room. Always water cyclamen from below, so you don’t leave water sitting on the tuber, as this can lead to rotting. Keep the compost moist, but never leave pots standing in water. Remove any faded flowers and leaves by twisting and gently tugging the stalks.
WINTER CHEER!
Pansies, cyclamen, polyanthus and primulas provide winter colour. Keep pansies blooming longer by removing all faded flowers every couple of weeks, so your plants don’t set seed. Plant up winter pots with small evergreens like Pinus picea ‘Silver Crest’ available now in our nursery. Make sure the compost in pots or hanging basket arrangements doesn’t dry out, as winter winds can be very drying. A selection of compact evergreens and shrubs produce flowers, fruits and berries and the berries are a source of natural bird food.
STRONG TIES!
Check that newly planted trees have a robust stake and that the tie is adjusted as the trunk thickens. The ties should be snug fitting, but not over tight.
GET THE SCOOP!
Scoop fallen leaves out of garden ponds with a net. Place floating heaters on fish ponds to prevent ice forming.
CHEW THE FAT!
Hang out fat balls and replenish bird feeders – blue tits are attracted and they will also pick over nearby plants, removing any overwintering pests they discover.
EARLY BIRD!
Order potatoes, onion sets, asparagus, artichoke and vegetable seeds. Invest in a heated propagator to make early seed sowings. Sow hardy annuals for early colour.
GETS RIGHT UP YOUR NOSE!
Many winter-flowering plants are only just coming into their own, and create delightful winter perfumes – Christmas box, Sarcococca confusa, Daphnes, witch hazels, Mahonia aquifolium with its graceful yellow sprays, and winter viburnums that are adorned in clusters of tiny white flowers with plentiful fragrance.
HUDDLE UP!
Looking for a winter warmer? Pop in to Barnby to start your Christmas shopping, we even have a tea and coffee machine on hand, for a warm and cosy shopping experience.
