Gardening Winter-proof your backyard

Oour residentidt guru CHARLIE ALBONE helps you enjoy your backyard this chilly season

Winter can be the best and worst time for a gardener. While not much is growing, it’s a time to relax and plan what you want to do with your space when the weather does warm up. If you can’t sit still – like a lot of us in the backyard! – you can follow these simple steps.

Keep the temp toasty!

Live e in a snowy area? Protect tend tender r plants with a blanket – lightweight so o it doesn’t smother it or break stems. Geotextile fleece, normally used in trenches to stop soil mixing with drainage and plumbing aggregates, is s best. Throw it over your plants in the evening and remove in the morning when whe en the temperature heats up a bit.

Redecorate smartly

Fire pits are still on trend but to ensure your area doesn’t become an ’80s-style spa in a few years, design with a dual purpose. To do this, create the space in an area that has another great attribute like summer shade or winter sun. That way, if the fire pit is removed, you’ll be left with a patio area for reading a book or relaxing with friends.

Throw some shade

Turning your alfresco area or pergola into a useable winter space means making it inviting no matter the weather. Outdoor areas can feature cafe-style blinds fitted to form walls that help trap warm air. Blinds also block sun and heat in summer. It’s a cost-effective way to ensure a space has year-round appeal.

Don’t stop trimming!

Yourur deciduous shrubs and trtrees could really do with a good prune in winter. It makes sense, as you don’t have leaves getting in the way. Remove any crossing or rubbing branches as this will cause problems down the line. Focus on any diseased or dying parts, too. Opening a plant up to allow good airflow will help keep humidity down in summer, which in turn prevents disease and pests attacking the plant.

Up your heating

Outdoor heaters aren’t limited to the standard upright gas variety. I’m a huge fan of heat strips that are attached to the roof and project heat down onto your table or entertaining area. When fitting something like this, make sure they have a variable flow knob so you’re not stuck sitting outside in a singlet and shorts because you can’t dial the heat down!

Protect your citrus plants

Citrus plants don’t like the cold, especially at the roots, which prefer constant temperature. Mulch in summer to insulate from heat. In winter, pull mulch away to let the sun add warmth to the soil. Expecting frost? Soak the area around the plant with water to stop the ground getting too cold.

Shine a light (or several)

Lighting the garden allows it to be seen from the inside, adding another dimension. Install lighting on separate loops to have practical lights at pathways and cooking areas and more ambient ones on another loop.