So, winter certainly seems to be on its way. We have had more than a handful of good frosts, temperatures consistently 5 degrees at night and the low blinding sun casting larger than usual shadows, earlier in the day.
We all know that now is a quieter time in our gardens and with less daylight, we need to make the most of what we have. After all, a day of gardening in the winter is the equivalent of two days in the summer.
Here is a list of some things that you can get your hands dirty with over the next coming months...
Birds - make sure to leave seeds, fat balls and fresh water. They need looking after this winter!
Potted plants - Even with it being incredibly mild up until now, we even have bulbs sprouting, and flowers still in bloom. Be sure to either bring in the pots, or group them together to help them through the winter. Any terracotta pots that are left outside, make sure they are protected from any frost!
Put those secateurs to work - Winter time is perfect for pruning. Those that are dormant benefit from a winter prune the most. Some examples being roses, wisteria and fruit trees. Pruning now will give you a maximum yield next year.
Soil quality - This is a great time to mulch and turn any borders so as to improve the quality of the border. Mulching helps protect the fragile plants and also puts nutrients back into the soil that have been used up.
Some tips if you are looking to make the most of winter pruning are self explanatory such as making sure climbers are secured. Don't prune faded flower heads on hydrangeas, cut wisteria back to 2 or 3 buds of summer side shoots and prune any climbing roses, removing diseased or damaged growth alongside tying in the new shoots.
Pruning fruit trees and vines is ideally done over the next month or two. Prune fruit trees to maintain an open, balanced structure and promote fruit growth. This doesn't go for stoned fruits that should be done in the summer to avoid disease.
Most of all, remember, wrap up!
