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With the colder months of the year fast approaching, most people will be switching out their wardrobes for warmer attire and making sure their heating systems work as they should.
But what about those of us with green fingers that want to see our gardens continue to thrive? Never fear, as here are 8 garden hacks for autumn and winter.
- Ensure you’ve got enough storage
Along with keeping year-round outdoor paraphernalia such as lawnmowers and bicycles safe, you’ll also need enough storage for summertime items like barbecues and furniture. If you require something bigger and better than your current garden shed, consider a prefabricated kit from SteelMaster, which are also incredibly easy to construct.
- Fix any broken fences
Don’t leave it too late to fix any broken fence panels, as the wild winds of winter are bound to tear them down at a moment’s notice. While you’re at it, coat your fences in a treatment to protect them from the rain and snow.
- Maintain your lawn with raking and sowing
In order to keep your lawn looking healthy, remove thatch and moss by regularly raking it during autumn. You may also want to sow a new lawn or reseed a well-used one as both the ground and air temperature should still be warm enough. This will help the grass germinate quickly.
- Pressure wash paths and patios
Many people will turn off their water supply during winter to prevent pipes and taps from freezing. But before you do so, give your paths and patio a thorough pressure wash, as they can get slimy and slippery in cold, wet weather. Just don’t forget waterproof footwear!
- Grow crops that thrive in winter
Just because it’s cold outside, doesn’t mean to say veggies won’t grow. As a matter of fact, root vegetables often taste better during the colder months as starch converts into sugar. A few choice crops include spinach, kale, leeks, celery, beets, carrots and chard.
- Get rid of spent flora
Even if you it took a long time digging your borders to make them look good during spring and summer, you should get rid of any spent flora before autumn and winter takes hold. Along with making your garden look tidier, you’ll also prevent certain plants from rotting and attracting pests.
- Invest in a compost bin
Did you know that leafmould – made from decaying leaves – is an excellent mulch that will add much-needed organic matter to your soil and help keep in moisture? Invest in a compost bin to help leaves rot down until they’re dark brown and crumbly. Then, simply add them around shrubs and plants to keep your garden growing no matter the weather.
- Plant shrubs in the ground and bulbs in pots
Autumn is the best time to plant shrubs because you don’t need lots of water and they stand a better chance of putting their roots down. Bulbs should be planted in pots if the ground is too hard after summer or if you don’t want to damage late-summer perennials that are still doing well.
