Closing Down The Garden For Winter

Closing Down the Garden for Winter: Essential Tips

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, it’s time to prepare your garden for its winter rest. A little effort now will protect your plants, save you work in spring, and keep your outdoor space looking tidy. Here’s a practical guide to closing down the garden for winter.

1. Clear Away Dead Growth

Remove annuals: Pull up faded bedding plants and compost them.

Cut back perennials: Trim back spent growth, but leave some seed heads like echinacea or sunflowers for birds and winter interest.

Rake leaves: Clear lawns, patios, and borders to prevent mould and slippery surfaces. Add leaves to a compost bin or create leaf mould for next year’s mulch.

2. Protect Your Soil

Spread a layer of mulch or compost over bare soil to protect it from winter rains and frost.

Cover vegetable beds with fleece, cloches, or green manure crops to enrich the soil for spring planting.

3. Protect Plants from Frost

Move tender plants in pots (like geraniums or citrus trees) to a greenhouse, conservatory, or sheltered spot.

Wrap outdoor pots with hessian or bubble wrap to insulate roots.

Use horticultural fleece on young shrubs or delicate plants when frost is forecast.

4. Tidy and Store Tools

Clean and oil garden tools to prevent rust.

Store hoses, watering cans, and delicate equipment indoors or under cover.

Drain water features and fountains to prevent frost damage.

5. Care for Wildlife

Clean bird feeders and keep them topped up through the colder months.

Leave a small pile of logs or leaves in a corner of the garden as shelter for hedgehogs, frogs, and insects.

Avoid cutting everything back too neatly—nature benefits from a little “wild.”

6. Prepare the Lawn

Give the lawn a final mow before frost sets in, leaving grass slightly longer than usual.

Aerate compacted areas with a fork to improve drainage.

Apply autumn lawn feed to strengthen roots for the coming year.

7. Plan Ahead for Spring

Plant spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and crocuses before the ground freezes.

Order seeds and plan crop rotations or flower displays for next season.

Repair fences, trellises, or raised beds while plants are dormant.

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✅ Key takeaway: Closing down the garden for winter is about protection and preparation. With just a few steps, you’ll safeguard plants, help wildlife, and set yourself up for a flourishing spring.