When winter comes around, most of us want to stay indoors and snuggle by the fire, away from the winter weather.
Just because it is cold outside does not mean you get to ignore your garden. There are actually plenty of winter gardening jobs that you can do to make sure your garden will be ready for spring.
And don’t let the cold temperatures put you off. When you start tackling these winter jobs, you will heat up in no time while enjoying the fresh air.
We have created a list of all the winter gardening jobs you and your family can undertake to make sure your garden looks its best when spring rolls around.
Garden Maintenance And Jobs To Undertake In Winter
Plan ahead
Before you get your gardening gloves dirty, it is time to sit down and plan what you want from your garden in the spring and summer.
Think about what elements did not work in the past year, and which changes you wish to make to your outdoor space.
Think about the plants you wish to grow: do you want to grow fruit like apple trees or pear trees, vegetables, herbs, summer flowering shrubs or just maintain your lawn?
Also, consider your landscaping needs. Do you want a new deck, water feature, or seating area? Plan all this at the start of winter so you can begin making changes.
Having a journal for your garden is a great way to get organised before you get started and also throughout the year.
Place your orders
Once you have planned what you want to plant in your garden during winter, it is time to place the order for seeds and bulbs.
You can order your plants online, or head over to your garden centre to look at your options there.
Planting
Now that your plants have arrived or you have visited the garden centres near you, it is time to get planting!
There is a variety of plants which you can plant during the cold months. Winter bedding plants and evergreens do well during winter. Alternatively, you can plant spring bulbs or herbaceous perennials that will flourish once the winter season has passed.
Deciduous shrubs and fruit trees also do well during this time of year, so get planting!
Spring bulbs
We mention spring bulbs separately as these plants will bloom in spring even when planted in winter. The earlier you plant them, the earlier you can expect them to flower.
Here are some spring bulbs to consider:
- Hyacinth
- Snowdrops
- Tulips
- Narcissus
- Crocuses
Weeding
Annual and perennial weeds love winter. As your lawn becomes dormant, these weeds grow quickly and cut off the nutrients and sunlight from your struggling plants.
During winter it is easy to spot weeds, which makes weeding a key winter gardening job.
Manual weeding is recommended, however, if you wish to use chemical weed killers, make sure you know exactly where the weeds are so that you do not harm your plants or pollute the soil.
We do recommend that you only use chemical herbicides as a last resort because even those designed to only tackle weeds will still cause stress to your garden.
Feeding
Winter is a great time to give your plants food. You should also provide the soil with food. The micro-organisms in the soil will flourish, and you will have good quality soil ready for summer.
Mowing
It is time to get the lawn mower ready – winter is a great time for mowing.
Moving the lawn in winter will prevent the grass from becoming overgrown, which blocks out much-needed sunlight. While mowing, also look out for any twigs or leaves, and pick them up as you go.
Tidy your borders
You may not have noticed that your garden’s borders have become a little bit shoddy over summer and autumn, so now is the best time to investigate and tidy the edges.
Remove any weeds from the edges, cut off dead flowers, cut back overgrown edges, and use a shovel to tidy the garden beds.
Clean your deck or patio
Winter is the perfect time to spruce up your outdoor seating areas since they won’t be used much in the cold months.
Start by sweeping your deck or patio to get rid of any dust and dirt. Depending on your deck surface, hose it down with some water and soap, or for durable deck materials use a pressure washer.
A pressure washer will get rid of any stubborn moss and lichens and can make your deck, patio or walkways look brand new. Just make sure you use a patio cleaning head on the pressure washer to not cause any unnecessary damage.
Raking Leaves
Leaves fall during autumn and winter and are a constant annoyance to homeowners. Sadly, just because it is cold outside, it does not mean you can let fallen leaves lie.
Leaves left on patios or walkways can produce patio slime as the leaf mould occurs, making these surfaces incredibly slippery.
Use a rake, broom or leaf blower to remove leaves from your surfaces and lawn and place them on your compost heap for later use in the garden.
Pruning to encourage growth
Winter is a great time to prune your deciduous plants. By pruning during winter, you will encourage new growth in spring.
You can use a proving saw, clippers, or a chainsaw for large trees to get the job done.
Feeding the birds
Birds and other animals struggle during the cold months, so why not include feeding the birds as one of your winter garden jobs?
You can purchase bird feeders from your local DIY store, or use your skills to build some yourself. Leftover composite boards are great for this purpose. You can create your own bird cakes with seeds, suet and mealworms, or purchase food from a pet store.
You can also place any kitchen scraps in your bird feeder.
It might be cold out, but investing in bird baths may be a good idea to provide animals with water. Just check the baths regularly to ensure they didn’t frost over during the cold nights.
Organise your tool shed
Your garden buildings deserve some attention during winter as well.
You can organise and spruce up your garden shed when you have nothing to do in the garden. Clean it out, organise your tools, get rid of items you no longer use or need, sweep the floor, and do any necessary structural repairs.
Repaint your fences
With fewer plants growing up against the fence, now is a great time to clean and repaint your fences.
Repair any broken boards, apply weatherproof or UV-ray protection, and add a splash of colourful paint if you feel like it. Just check the weather so you have enough days without rain to allow the paint to dry.
FAQs
How can I enjoy my backyard during winter?
Doing garden jobs may not seem like the best way to enjoy your garden during winter, but it is still a great way to get outside and appreciate what you have.
You can make your garden look its best during winter by planting evergreen shrubs that will continue to thrive even when it is freezing cold outside.
Make the most out of your outdoor seating area by incorporating a firepit or outdoor fireplace, gas heaters, and adding blankets and cushions to your chairs. Doesn’t this just sound like the perfect outdoor environment to enjoy a good book and a cup of tea?
Even if you don’t want to leave the warmth of your home, you can enjoy your beautiful garden. Place planters with colourful winter flowers outside in full view of the windows.
Which vegetables grow well in winter?
These vegetables grow well in winter:
- cabbage
- kale
- spinach
- shallots
- onions
- broccoli
- chard
- parsnips
Final Thoughts
We may not like the idea of going outside when it is cold, but there are plenty of jobs you can tackle during winter to keep your garden looking fresh and healthy. Spending time outside is good for your health, so why not maintain the garden while you are at it?
