How to Keep Your Garden Alive This Winter

When winter arrives, many people give up with the upkeep of their garden. It seems logical – after all, it’s cold and nobody’s going to use it or sit outside during the frostbitten months. Therefore, many if not most of us neglect our gardens, forgetting that we’re only going to have to tidy them up throughout spring, ready for the summer. There are, however, many ways to keep your garden alive, even when the leaves on the trees have fallen and the flowers have disappeared. Here’s how to keep your garden well-kept throughout winter.

Think Ahead

Before it becomes too cold to do anything, make sure you plan and decide what you can do to tide your garden over during winter. For example, in October paint the fence panels and any garden furniture. Therefore, you won’t have to lookout at peeling, scruffy fence panels, itching to fix them. The same goes for flower beds: ensure you’ve planted any flowers or shrubs, or removed any that won’t make it through winter. You don’t want dying or dead plants littering your lawn.

Plant Winter Flowers

Many people forget that flowers can bloom throughout winter. We’re used to seeing bare and blank canvases from November through to January, however, there are many flowers you can plant for an unusual splash of colour. For example, pansies blossom from autumn through to spring – just ensure you plant them in a well-sunned bed and dead-head regularly.

Another means of adding colour throughout your garden is by using hanging baskets. Hang a couple outside the front of your home, and add colour to your whole street. Violas and primrose can create beautiful baskets, and many varieties of violas can offer a sweet smell.

Keep Your Pond Water Fresh

If you have fish, ensure that their water remains comfortable and fresh. During the summer months, cleaning the pond can seem like an enjoyable task, however, coming into contact with water can be painful throughout winter. Therefore, this may be the perfect opportunity to invest in a good quality water pump and filter, especially if you have fish such as koi. Such products can be found at Water Garden.

Look After the Wildlife

If you have any wildlife that visits your garden frequently, ensure you keep it well looked after throughout winter. Although they will most likely be used to the temperature and living conditions winter has to offer them, you can also help them.

If you have regular hedgehogs and you know that they sleep in your garden, you can always improve their shelter or leave little bits of food. You can also improve the accessibility of your garden by cutting a small hole in the fence, however, make sure you speak to your neighbours before doing so – they may not be happy with the extra wildlife.

Also improve the biodiversity of your garden by ensuring the plants in your garden provide pollen and nectar. Bees and other insects will appear when temperatures reach 10 degrees or above, so they’ll be grateful.