Understanding the Importance of Winter Preparation<\/strong><\/h2>![\"a](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/A-frost-winter-garden.jpg\")
<\/figure>Winter, with its freezing temperatures and harsh weather conditions, can have a detrimental effect on your plants.<\/p>
And without proper preparation, you could see a significant reduction in your garden’s health and productivity come spring.<\/p>
So, don’t leave your garden looking untidy and unloved \u2014 get out there and prepare.<\/p>
Why Prepare Your Garden for Winter?<\/strong><\/h3>- Plant Protection<\/strong>: Many plants are sensitive to the cold and can die if exposed to freezing temperatures. Therefore, appropriate winter preparation can help protect these vulnerable plants.<\/li>\n\n
- Soil Health<\/strong>: Winter’s rainy, cold weather can cause soil erosion, which often leads to nutrient depletion as the rain washes away your soil’s nourishment. So, you can help maintain your soil’s health with the proper winter preparation.<\/li>\n\n
- Pest Prevention<\/strong>: Winter is a prime time for pests and diseases because they exploit your plants’ vulnerability during dormancy. Proper garden preparation can help prevent these issues before they become a problem.<\/li>\n\n
- Spring Preparation<\/strong>: By preparing your garden for winter, you’re also setting the stage for a successful spring. Your efforts now will make it easier to get your garden up and running when the weather warms up.<\/li><\/ul>
Let’s look into each of these in more detail.<\/em><\/p>The Basics of Garden Winter Prep<\/strong><\/h2>![\"Snow-covered](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Preparing-your-lawn-for-winter.jpg\")
<\/figure>When it comes to gardening in winter, you should follow a few critical steps. These include:<\/em><\/p>Clearing Your Garden<\/strong><\/h3>Start by removing dead plants, weeds, and debris from your flowerbeds, pots, and terraces. This ensures your garden is clean and ready for the winter season.<\/p>
Not only does this remove potential hiding places for pests, but it also prevents diseases from overwintering in your garden.<\/p>
Testing Your Soil<\/strong><\/h3>Understanding your soil’s health is crucial for successful gardening.<\/p>
Use a testing kit to check your soil’s pH and nutrient levels. And if necessary, consider adding organic matter or fertilisers to improve your soil’s vitality.<\/p>
Or if your lawn turf is showing signs of acidity, add Lawn Lime to help gradually raise the pH. This helps make the soil less hospitable to weeds and more accommodating to your grass plants.<\/p>
Adding Mulch<\/strong><\/h3>Mulch<\/a> serves multiple purposes in winter gardening. It helps insulate the ground and prevent soil erosion. And as the mulch decomposes, it adds fresh nutrients to the soil.<\/p>Additionally, in the case of a warm, dry winter, mulch helps your soil retain its moisture.<\/p>
So, apply a generous layer of organic mulch, such as shop-bought or homemade compost<\/a>, leaf mould<\/a>, or wood chips, to your garden beds before the first frost.<\/p>Protecting Vulnerable Plants<\/strong><\/h3>Some plants are particularly vulnerable to winter conditions.<\/p>
These include:<\/p>
- annuals<\/li>\n\n
- tender perennials<\/li>\n\n
- tropicals<\/li>\n\n
- fruit and veg<\/li>\n\n
- plants with soft wood<\/li>\n\n
- Summer-flowering plants<\/li>\n\n
- potted plants<\/li><\/ul>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Garden Doctor:\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tDepending on the plant type, consider moving them indoors. Alternatively, use garden cloches, polytunnels, or horticultural fleeces for protection, or apply an extra thick layer of mulch for insulation.\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
Preparing your garden for winter – advanced tips<\/strong><\/h2>![\"a](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Fatsia-japonica.jpg\")
<\/figure>Once you’ve covered the basics, you can move on to more advanced garden winter prep techniques. <\/em><\/p>Planting for Winter<\/strong><\/h3>Some plants thrive in winter conditions, and having a good mix of summer and winter plants helps keep your garden more attractive all year round.<\/p>
Winter plants add beauty to your garden during the colder months while improving soil health and providing food for local wildlife.<\/p>
Some of the most reliable winter plants include:<\/p>
- Winter-flowering cherry<\/li>\n\n
- Cornus sanguinea<\/li>\n\n
- Fatsia japonica<\/li>\n\n
- Hellebore<\/li>\n\n
- Winter honeysuckle<\/li>\n\n
- Daphnes<\/li>\n\n
- Mahonia<\/li>\n\n
- Calluna<\/li>\n\n
- Eranthis<\/li>\n\n
- Winter heath<\/li>\n\n
- Winter jasmine<\/li>\n\n
- Holly<\/li>\n\n
- Hazel<\/li>\n\n
- Irises<\/li>\n\n
- Primrose<\/li>\n\n
- Dahlia<\/li>\n\n
- Cyclamen<\/li>\n\n
- Aubretia<\/li>\n\n
- Plantain lilies<\/li><\/ul>
So, as you can see, there’s a plethora of beautiful, winter-flowering plants that can brighten up your otherwise hibernating garden. And many of these grow as happily in pots as in the ground.<\/p>
Creating Windbreaks<\/strong><\/h3>Strong winds cause significant damage to your garden.<\/p>
So, create windbreaks or shelterbelts to help protect your plants during harsh winter weather. These can be made from various materials, including fencing, hedges, or even a row of trees.<\/p>
Improving Drainage<\/strong><\/h3>![\"compost](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/compost-yard.jpg\")
<\/figure>Waterlogged soil can be harmful to many plants. And clay soil, particularly, is prone to flooding because it retains water, holding it around plant roots, which can cause rot.<\/p>
Improving your garden’s drainage is easier than you might think and is often a case of addressing the heaviness of clay soil.<\/p>
One of the best ways to improve drainage in clay soil is adding organic matter, such as compost or horticultural sand. This dissipates the soil’s heaviness and enhances the structure, allowing water to pass through and away from plants’ roots.<\/p>
In the case of improving the topsoil of your lawn, you’ll want to topdress it. Find out how to topdress your lawn<\/a> in our expert’s guide.<\/p>Pruning<\/strong><\/h3>It’s not too late to prune deciduous plants in winter \u2014 these are plants that lose their leaves in autumn. These plants send their food reserves to their roots after losing their leaves \u2014 indeed, pruning these plants in summer can remove the food they store in their leaves.<\/p>
So, prune your deciduous plants before you store your tools for the winter. This ensures they have ample resources to spring back to life in spring, balancing their roots with fresh top growth.<\/p>
Beyond the Garden: Winter Care for Tools and Equipment<\/strong><\/h2>![\"Gardening](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/A-selection-of-garden-tools.jpg\")
<\/figure>Your garden isn’t the only thing that needs preparing for winter. Your tools and equipment also need some TLC to ensure they’re ready for the next gardening season.<\/em><\/p>Cleaning and Sharpening Tools<\/strong><\/h3>Clean your gardening tools thoroughly, removing any soil or plant material. Sharpen any devices that require it, and oil them to prevent rust.<\/p>
Servicing Machinery<\/strong><\/h3>Consider a professional service for cleaning, lubricating parts, and sharpening cutting surfaces for larger equipment, like mowers and strimmers.<\/p>
This ensures they’re in top working order for the next gardening season.<\/p>
Proper Storage<\/strong><\/h3>Store your tools and equipment in a dry place, protected from the elements, like a garden shed. This prevents rust and keeps them safe from the elements.<\/p>
Looking Ahead: Planning for Next Year’s Garden<\/strong><\/h2>![\"Beautiful](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/A-beautiful-springtime-garden.jpg\")
<\/figure>While you’re gardening in winter, it’s also the perfect time to start planning for the following year.<\/em><\/p>Consider the following:<\/em><\/p>Crop Rotation<\/strong><\/h3>Crop rotation is a crucial aspect of maintaining soil health. It prevents the build-up of disease and pest populations and can help improve soil fertility.<\/p>
So, start planning your crop rotation strategy for the upcoming year. This includes fruit and veg plants as well as flower bed annuals.<\/p>
Seed Collection<\/strong><\/h3>Collect seeds from your favourite plants to sow next year. They should be ripe and dry enough to pick and store by the first few weeks of winter.<\/p>
Store them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant.<\/p>
Preparing your lawn for winter<\/strong><\/h2>Grass typically goes dormant in the depths of winter, so there’s no longer any need to mow. However, if you’re reading this before the temperature has dropped below 10\u00baC, then it’s not too late to fertilise your turf.<\/p>
The ideal winter preparation for a lawn is:<\/p>
- A final cut<\/li>\n\n
- Fertilisation<\/li>\n\n
- Overseeding (before the temperature drops below 10\u00baC)<\/li>\n\n
- Removing fallen debris<\/li><\/ul>
We have a step-by-step guide<\/a> to preparing your lawn for winter for more details.<\/em><\/p>\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMOOWY Lawn Care Products \t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\tView Products\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tTop\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
![\"Front](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/long-lasting-lawn-fertiliser-450x450.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tLawn feed\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span>4.3\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t(<\/span>23 reviews<\/span>)<\/span>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![](\"\/wp-content\/themes\/moowy\/images\/avail-in.png\")
In stock<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLong Lasting Lawn Fertiliser\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\tEffective for 90 days <\/b>| Suitable for all types of grass and soil | See results in 14 days\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFrom: <\/span> 12.99<\/bdi><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tView\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tChoose your variation\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t![\"Front](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/long-lasting-lawn-fertiliser-460x460.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLong Lasting Lawn Fertiliser\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span>4.3\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t(<\/span>23 reviews<\/span>)<\/span>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> 12.99<\/bdi><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tOrder by 2PM<\/span> = shipped today\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t250.000+<\/span> satisfied customers!\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t60 day satisfaction<\/span> guarantee\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t<\/ul>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tTop\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
![\"Front](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/quick-repair-grass-seed-450x450.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tGrass seed\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span>4.5\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t(<\/span>43 reviews<\/span>)<\/span>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tQuick Repair Grass Seed\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMOOWY’s choice for repairing your lawn<\/b> | Premier League-quality lawn in no time | Germinates quickly\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFrom: <\/span> 12.99<\/bdi><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
<\/figure>Winter, with its freezing temperatures and harsh weather conditions, can have a detrimental effect on your plants.<\/p>
And without proper preparation, you could see a significant reduction in your garden’s health and productivity come spring.<\/p>
So, don’t leave your garden looking untidy and unloved \u2014 get out there and prepare.<\/p>
Why Prepare Your Garden for Winter?<\/strong><\/h3>- Plant Protection<\/strong>: Many plants are sensitive to the cold and can die if exposed to freezing temperatures. Therefore, appropriate winter preparation can help protect these vulnerable plants.<\/li>\n\n
- Soil Health<\/strong>: Winter’s rainy, cold weather can cause soil erosion, which often leads to nutrient depletion as the rain washes away your soil’s nourishment. So, you can help maintain your soil’s health with the proper winter preparation.<\/li>\n\n
- Pest Prevention<\/strong>: Winter is a prime time for pests and diseases because they exploit your plants’ vulnerability during dormancy. Proper garden preparation can help prevent these issues before they become a problem.<\/li>\n\n
- Spring Preparation<\/strong>: By preparing your garden for winter, you’re also setting the stage for a successful spring. Your efforts now will make it easier to get your garden up and running when the weather warms up.<\/li><\/ul>
Let’s look into each of these in more detail.<\/em><\/p>The Basics of Garden Winter Prep<\/strong><\/h2><\/figure>When it comes to gardening in winter, you should follow a few critical steps. These include:<\/em><\/p>Clearing Your Garden<\/strong><\/h3>Start by removing dead plants, weeds, and debris from your flowerbeds, pots, and terraces. This ensures your garden is clean and ready for the winter season.<\/p>
Not only does this remove potential hiding places for pests, but it also prevents diseases from overwintering in your garden.<\/p>
Testing Your Soil<\/strong><\/h3>Understanding your soil’s health is crucial for successful gardening.<\/p>
Use a testing kit to check your soil’s pH and nutrient levels. And if necessary, consider adding organic matter or fertilisers to improve your soil’s vitality.<\/p>
Or if your lawn turf is showing signs of acidity, add Lawn Lime to help gradually raise the pH. This helps make the soil less hospitable to weeds and more accommodating to your grass plants.<\/p>
Adding Mulch<\/strong><\/h3>Mulch<\/a> serves multiple purposes in winter gardening. It helps insulate the ground and prevent soil erosion. And as the mulch decomposes, it adds fresh nutrients to the soil.<\/p>Additionally, in the case of a warm, dry winter, mulch helps your soil retain its moisture.<\/p>
So, apply a generous layer of organic mulch, such as shop-bought or homemade compost<\/a>, leaf mould<\/a>, or wood chips, to your garden beds before the first frost.<\/p>Protecting Vulnerable Plants<\/strong><\/h3>Some plants are particularly vulnerable to winter conditions.<\/p>
These include:<\/p>
- annuals<\/li>\n\n
- tender perennials<\/li>\n\n
- tropicals<\/li>\n\n
- fruit and veg<\/li>\n\n
- plants with soft wood<\/li>\n\n
- Summer-flowering plants<\/li>\n\n
- potted plants<\/li><\/ul>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Garden Doctor:\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tDepending on the plant type, consider moving them indoors. Alternatively, use garden cloches, polytunnels, or horticultural fleeces for protection, or apply an extra thick layer of mulch for insulation.\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
Preparing your garden for winter – advanced tips<\/strong><\/h2><\/figure>Once you’ve covered the basics, you can move on to more advanced garden winter prep techniques. <\/em><\/p>Planting for Winter<\/strong><\/h3>Some plants thrive in winter conditions, and having a good mix of summer and winter plants helps keep your garden more attractive all year round.<\/p>
Winter plants add beauty to your garden during the colder months while improving soil health and providing food for local wildlife.<\/p>
Some of the most reliable winter plants include:<\/p>
- Winter-flowering cherry<\/li>\n\n
- Cornus sanguinea<\/li>\n\n
- Fatsia japonica<\/li>\n\n
- Hellebore<\/li>\n\n
- Winter honeysuckle<\/li>\n\n
- Daphnes<\/li>\n\n
- Mahonia<\/li>\n\n
- Calluna<\/li>\n\n
- Eranthis<\/li>\n\n
- Winter heath<\/li>\n\n
- Winter jasmine<\/li>\n\n
- Holly<\/li>\n\n
- Hazel<\/li>\n\n
- Irises<\/li>\n\n
- Primrose<\/li>\n\n
- Dahlia<\/li>\n\n
- Cyclamen<\/li>\n\n
- Aubretia<\/li>\n\n
- Plantain lilies<\/li><\/ul>
So, as you can see, there’s a plethora of beautiful, winter-flowering plants that can brighten up your otherwise hibernating garden. And many of these grow as happily in pots as in the ground.<\/p>
Creating Windbreaks<\/strong><\/h3>Strong winds cause significant damage to your garden.<\/p>
So, create windbreaks or shelterbelts to help protect your plants during harsh winter weather. These can be made from various materials, including fencing, hedges, or even a row of trees.<\/p>
Improving Drainage<\/strong><\/h3><\/figure>Waterlogged soil can be harmful to many plants. And clay soil, particularly, is prone to flooding because it retains water, holding it around plant roots, which can cause rot.<\/p>
Improving your garden’s drainage is easier than you might think and is often a case of addressing the heaviness of clay soil.<\/p>
One of the best ways to improve drainage in clay soil is adding organic matter, such as compost or horticultural sand. This dissipates the soil’s heaviness and enhances the structure, allowing water to pass through and away from plants’ roots.<\/p>
In the case of improving the topsoil of your lawn, you’ll want to topdress it. Find out how to topdress your lawn<\/a> in our expert’s guide.<\/p>Pruning<\/strong><\/h3>It’s not too late to prune deciduous plants in winter \u2014 these are plants that lose their leaves in autumn. These plants send their food reserves to their roots after losing their leaves \u2014 indeed, pruning these plants in summer can remove the food they store in their leaves.<\/p>
So, prune your deciduous plants before you store your tools for the winter. This ensures they have ample resources to spring back to life in spring, balancing their roots with fresh top growth.<\/p>
Beyond the Garden: Winter Care for Tools and Equipment<\/strong><\/h2><\/figure>Your garden isn’t the only thing that needs preparing for winter. Your tools and equipment also need some TLC to ensure they’re ready for the next gardening season.<\/em><\/p>Cleaning and Sharpening Tools<\/strong><\/h3>Clean your gardening tools thoroughly, removing any soil or plant material. Sharpen any devices that require it, and oil them to prevent rust.<\/p>
Servicing Machinery<\/strong><\/h3>Consider a professional service for cleaning, lubricating parts, and sharpening cutting surfaces for larger equipment, like mowers and strimmers.<\/p>
This ensures they’re in top working order for the next gardening season.<\/p>
Proper Storage<\/strong><\/h3>Store your tools and equipment in a dry place, protected from the elements, like a garden shed. This prevents rust and keeps them safe from the elements.<\/p>
Looking Ahead: Planning for Next Year’s Garden<\/strong><\/h2><\/figure>While you’re gardening in winter, it’s also the perfect time to start planning for the following year.<\/em><\/p>Consider the following:<\/em><\/p>Crop Rotation<\/strong><\/h3>Crop rotation is a crucial aspect of maintaining soil health. It prevents the build-up of disease and pest populations and can help improve soil fertility.<\/p>
So, start planning your crop rotation strategy for the upcoming year. This includes fruit and veg plants as well as flower bed annuals.<\/p>
Seed Collection<\/strong><\/h3>Collect seeds from your favourite plants to sow next year. They should be ripe and dry enough to pick and store by the first few weeks of winter.<\/p>
Store them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant.<\/p>
Preparing your lawn for winter<\/strong><\/h2>Grass typically goes dormant in the depths of winter, so there’s no longer any need to mow. However, if you’re reading this before the temperature has dropped below 10\u00baC, then it’s not too late to fertilise your turf.<\/p>
The ideal winter preparation for a lawn is:<\/p>
- A final cut<\/li>\n\n
- Fertilisation<\/li>\n\n
- Overseeding (before the temperature drops below 10\u00baC)<\/li>\n\n
- Removing fallen debris<\/li><\/ul>
We have a step-by-step guide<\/a> to preparing your lawn for winter for more details.<\/em><\/p>\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMOOWY Lawn Care Products \t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\tView Products\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tTop\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tLawn feed\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span>4.3\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t(<\/span>23 reviews<\/span>)<\/span>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLong Lasting Lawn Fertiliser\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\tEffective for 90 days <\/b>| Suitable for all types of grass and soil | See results in 14 days\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFrom: <\/span> 12.99<\/bdi><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tView\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tChoose your variation\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLong Lasting Lawn Fertiliser\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span>4.3\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t(<\/span>23 reviews<\/span>)<\/span>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> 12.99<\/bdi><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tOrder by 2PM<\/span> = shipped today\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t250.000+<\/span> satisfied customers!\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t60 day satisfaction<\/span> guarantee\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t<\/ul>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tTop\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tGrass seed\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span>4.5\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t(<\/span>43 reviews<\/span>)<\/span>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/span>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tQuick Repair Grass Seed\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMOOWY’s choice for repairing your lawn<\/b> | Premier League-quality lawn in no time | Germinates quickly\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFrom: <\/span> 12.99<\/bdi><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
Let’s look into each of these in more detail.<\/em><\/p> When it comes to gardening in winter, you should follow a few critical steps. These include:<\/em><\/p> Start by removing dead plants, weeds, and debris from your flowerbeds, pots, and terraces. This ensures your garden is clean and ready for the winter season.<\/p> Not only does this remove potential hiding places for pests, but it also prevents diseases from overwintering in your garden.<\/p> Understanding your soil’s health is crucial for successful gardening.<\/p> Use a testing kit to check your soil’s pH and nutrient levels. And if necessary, consider adding organic matter or fertilisers to improve your soil’s vitality.<\/p> Or if your lawn turf is showing signs of acidity, add Lawn Lime to help gradually raise the pH. This helps make the soil less hospitable to weeds and more accommodating to your grass plants.<\/p> Mulch<\/a> serves multiple purposes in winter gardening. It helps insulate the ground and prevent soil erosion. And as the mulch decomposes, it adds fresh nutrients to the soil.<\/p> Additionally, in the case of a warm, dry winter, mulch helps your soil retain its moisture.<\/p> So, apply a generous layer of organic mulch, such as shop-bought or homemade compost<\/a>, leaf mould<\/a>, or wood chips, to your garden beds before the first frost.<\/p> Some plants are particularly vulnerable to winter conditions.<\/p> These include:<\/p> Once you’ve covered the basics, you can move on to more advanced garden winter prep techniques. <\/em><\/p> Some plants thrive in winter conditions, and having a good mix of summer and winter plants helps keep your garden more attractive all year round.<\/p> Winter plants add beauty to your garden during the colder months while improving soil health and providing food for local wildlife.<\/p> Some of the most reliable winter plants include:<\/p> So, as you can see, there’s a plethora of beautiful, winter-flowering plants that can brighten up your otherwise hibernating garden. And many of these grow as happily in pots as in the ground.<\/p> Strong winds cause significant damage to your garden.<\/p> So, create windbreaks or shelterbelts to help protect your plants during harsh winter weather. These can be made from various materials, including fencing, hedges, or even a row of trees.<\/p> Waterlogged soil can be harmful to many plants. And clay soil, particularly, is prone to flooding because it retains water, holding it around plant roots, which can cause rot.<\/p> Improving your garden’s drainage is easier than you might think and is often a case of addressing the heaviness of clay soil.<\/p> One of the best ways to improve drainage in clay soil is adding organic matter, such as compost or horticultural sand. This dissipates the soil’s heaviness and enhances the structure, allowing water to pass through and away from plants’ roots.<\/p> In the case of improving the topsoil of your lawn, you’ll want to topdress it. Find out how to topdress your lawn<\/a> in our expert’s guide.<\/p> It’s not too late to prune deciduous plants in winter \u2014 these are plants that lose their leaves in autumn. These plants send their food reserves to their roots after losing their leaves \u2014 indeed, pruning these plants in summer can remove the food they store in their leaves.<\/p> So, prune your deciduous plants before you store your tools for the winter. This ensures they have ample resources to spring back to life in spring, balancing their roots with fresh top growth.<\/p> Your garden isn’t the only thing that needs preparing for winter. Your tools and equipment also need some TLC to ensure they’re ready for the next gardening season.<\/em><\/p> Clean your gardening tools thoroughly, removing any soil or plant material. Sharpen any devices that require it, and oil them to prevent rust.<\/p> Consider a professional service for cleaning, lubricating parts, and sharpening cutting surfaces for larger equipment, like mowers and strimmers.<\/p> This ensures they’re in top working order for the next gardening season.<\/p> Store your tools and equipment in a dry place, protected from the elements, like a garden shed. This prevents rust and keeps them safe from the elements.<\/p> While you’re gardening in winter, it’s also the perfect time to start planning for the following year.<\/em><\/p> Consider the following:<\/em><\/p> Crop rotation is a crucial aspect of maintaining soil health. It prevents the build-up of disease and pest populations and can help improve soil fertility.<\/p> So, start planning your crop rotation strategy for the upcoming year. This includes fruit and veg plants as well as flower bed annuals.<\/p> Collect seeds from your favourite plants to sow next year. They should be ripe and dry enough to pick and store by the first few weeks of winter.<\/p> Store them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant.<\/p> Grass typically goes dormant in the depths of winter, so there’s no longer any need to mow. However, if you’re reading this before the temperature has dropped below 10\u00baC, then it’s not too late to fertilise your turf.<\/p> The ideal winter preparation for a lawn is:<\/p> We have a step-by-step guide<\/a> to preparing your lawn for winter for more details.<\/em><\/p>The Basics of Garden Winter Prep<\/strong><\/h2>
<\/figure>Clearing Your Garden<\/strong><\/h3>
Testing Your Soil<\/strong><\/h3>
Adding Mulch<\/strong><\/h3>
Protecting Vulnerable Plants<\/strong><\/h3>
Preparing your garden for winter – advanced tips<\/strong><\/h2>
<\/figure>Planting for Winter<\/strong><\/h3>
Creating Windbreaks<\/strong><\/h3>
Improving Drainage<\/strong><\/h3>
<\/figure>Pruning<\/strong><\/h3>
Beyond the Garden: Winter Care for Tools and Equipment<\/strong><\/h2>
<\/figure>Cleaning and Sharpening Tools<\/strong><\/h3>
Servicing Machinery<\/strong><\/h3>
Proper Storage<\/strong><\/h3>
Looking Ahead: Planning for Next Year’s Garden<\/strong><\/h2>
<\/figure>Crop Rotation<\/strong><\/h3>
Seed Collection<\/strong><\/h3>
Preparing your lawn for winter<\/strong><\/h2>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t In stock<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
![\"Front](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/quick-repair-grass-seed-460x460.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t