Protect Your Garden This Winter With These Survival Tips

Summer is over, and winter is on the way. While you will be keen to stay warm and toasty indoors, it is important to remember that your garden will still be in need of some tender care and attention to ensure it has the means to get through the chilly months. So before you retire into your home with a toasty log fire, it’s time to get outdoors to protect your garden from the potential freezing temperatures, strong winds, and heavy rain.


Protect your plants

You need to give your plants and flowers the best opportunity to survive, so we recommend you get into the habit of mulching your garden to protect your plant’s roots from the freezing temperatures. Mulching will also prevent those pesky weeds from growing, and improve the texture of the soil.

For those of you with DIY skills, you might also consider building a shelter to protect your shrubs and flowers from wind and frost damage. There is some advice here on how to build one, or alternatively, you may be able to buy something suitable from your local garden center. However, there is also a simpler option. Stake or tie down a blanket to cover your plants, but don’t bind them around your plants as you will cause damage to the stems. This covering will keep your plants insulated, but be sure to remove it each morning to prevent condensation which may also cause your plants to freeze.


Look after your lawn

For starters, you need to deal with falling leaves. The problem of leaves  is one of the many nightmares gardeners face, and there will be a constant need to remove them during the windy season. They will block off the light to the lawn, leaving ugly brown patches, and prevent your grass from getting moisture. Many people use a rake to remove leaves, but this can be a tiring process when the flow of leaves is constant. To make your life easier, we recommend a lawn sweeper, which will quickly remove leaves and other debris from your garden. See here for how to pick a lawn sweeper, and read the available reviews. Instead of throwing away the leaves, make use of them and turn them into mulch or add them to the compost.

Before frost arrives, you also need to fertilize your lawn to ensure it gets the right nutrients to protect it during the harsh winter months. You need a slow-release fertilizer that is high in phosphorus to promote root growth, readying your garden for the spring.

You need to continue mowing your lawn, at least until the grass begins to harden in the cold. Should the grass get longer than 3 inches, there is the risk of snow mold, which is a type of fungus that will damage and kill your grass after the snow starts to melt. Therefore, continue cutting the grass to an even height of around 2 inches until the grass growth naturally starts to slow.

Final word

We hope we have helped. Follow our advice, and you will be able to enjoy the benefits of your garden in the new year.