It is hardly a shock, but it looks as though winter is here. We have been very lucky with the temperatures until this week, and now the cold is starting to bite.
With lower temperatures, what should we be doing in the garden?
1 Time for digging Winter is the perfect time to get the soil ready for spring. In most cases it is only necessary to turn over the top of the soil but it is sensible to add as much organic matter as you can. If you can get well rotted manure, that is perfect, as is home compost and leaf mould. Spread it over the soil and dig it in. You can leave it in lumps so frost breaks it down over winter. Adding organic matter helps sandy soils retain moisture and nutrients and helps to ‘break up’ clay soils and make them easier to manage.
2 Cut back perennials I like to tidy borders before spring. It is because I have lots of sprig bulbs planted and it is difficult to get on the borders later without damaging them. Cut back and clear away the old stems and get rid of weeds on the surface. You can then mulch the beds if you have enough compost.
3 Cut back shrubs There are not many shrubs that need to be pruned right now – most can be left till spring. But tall shrubs like buddleias and roses can be cut back a little to help prevent wind damage in winter.
4 Feed the birds We should feed birds all year round but it is especially important in winter. Provide a variety of feeders and feeds, keep them topped up and don’t forget to provide clean water too, especially in frosty weather.
5 Plant hellebores No other plant cheers me up as much as hellebores in winter. Although they are strictly plants for late winter and early spring, they seem to bloom earlier each year and many of mine are already in bloom. They are impervious to cold and although they collapse in frost they bounce back as they thaw and they are long-lived and flower for months. You can buy them now and plant them wherever you like, in sun or part shade. They also make wonderful gifts for Christmas.
6 Protect pots To prevent terracotta and ceramic pots from being damaged by winter frosts, move the pots to beside the house for a little extra warmth or put them in a greenhouse. If there are no plants in the pots, empty the compost. If the pots are too big to move, wrap the pots, but do not cover the plants, with bubble plastic.
7 Plant fruit trees Whether they are potted or bare-root, fruit trees and bushes can be planted now. When planting from pots always tease out the roots a little so they grow out into the soil.
8 Prune grapevines Whether in the open garden or in a greenhouse, grapevines should be pruned now, while completely dormant.
9 Check tree ties It is easy to forget to check tree ties and allow them to damage the bark as the trees grow. We are usually too busy to notice in summer so take the chance now to loosen or remove the ties before they do damage.
10 Cut holly As the weather gets colder, blackbirds will start stripping berries from your shrubs as they look for extra food. Cut some berried holly now before all the berries get eaten and put it in a bucket of water in a shed ready to decorate the house later. If you are feeling a bit guilty then leave out those wrinkled apples from the fruit bowl or toss out a few raisins and sultanas!