Gardening tips to kickstart winter

The jackets are out of the wardrobes and finding a source of heat is the top priority now that winter has arrived and while you rug up, your garden will want to be protected from the cold as well.

After soaking up the summer sun and now slowly adapting to the cooler autumn winds, gardens can sometimes become dormant through winter, but it doesn’t have to be that way for many.

There are a few things you can do to keep your plants thriving through the colder months of the year.

Frost protection

Frosts can damage the plants foliage and any new shoots if warmer days have seen growth in them.

It’s important to see where you can best protect your plants from frost damage.

If you have potted plants outside, moving them under a veranda or roof will protect frost settling, while a frost or shade area over sensitive plants may help them from suffering damage.

Vegetables to grow

There are an abundance of winter veggies that will thrive in the cool conditions.

Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, garlic and spinach are just a few to think about if you are hoping to keep your garden growing in winter.

Broccoli enjoys some sun, so make sure its planted where the rays will hit in in the middle of the day, not forgetting to water the soil despite the cooler temperatures.

Herbs are also a popular choice during winter, with thyme, rosemary, parsley, basil, mint and winter savory able to be planted.

Weed control

With more rain comes more weeds. Some will love the extra dosage of water and spring up quickly, so getting on top of these is a must.

Weeding by hand may take some time, but it’s effective and will allow you to clear them with a better chance of keeping them away.

Pruning and clearing dropped leaves is also key in winter. Leaves dropped on garden beds can stop water from soaking through, so clearing these in early autumn can help your garden absorb water.

With leaves and flowers now gone, you can see where you need to prune your trees to shape them structurally. It also gives you the opportunity to cut off any dead branches in time for spring.

Flowers

While some flowers disappear for the winter, others thrive. Bright vibrant flowers like fairy primroses, polyanthus flowers and hardenbergias are the perfect option to keep your garden alive and vivid even when the weather might not be. Lavender is another great option and grows prolifically in the winter months.

Tidy up

With the busy spring and summer seasons behind you, it may give you the chance to do the little jobs you have been putting off. A shed can be cleaned out, while the mower can

have some maintenance in the times when it isn’t needed as much.

Sharpening your tools is another option, while even maybe adding some shelves or building some new areas to hang plants could be an option.