Just because the main growing season is over, that doesn’t mean that gardeners can afford to rest on their laurels. In fact, November and December are key months when you can do a lot of the groundwork to ensure your garden looks at its best when spring arrives.
Nelson Potter specialise in supplying high-quality garden buildings, benches, gates and other timber products from our base near Ipswich. Here we outline five key garden jobs for the winter.
Put Up New Fencing – and Check Your Existing Panels
Many of our customers and contractors are putting new fences and panels up at the moment, providing valuable protection for gardens against any cold or windy spells. You should also check to see that your current fencing is all structurally sound and ready for the winter. If you need to do any repairs, ensure they are good enough to see through the winter.
As well as supplying high-quality fencing to our customers all across East Anglia, at Nelson Potter we also supply clips and brackets, concrete posts and post supports, as well as ironmongery and fixings that you can check out here.
If you have any wooden garden furniture, it may be best to bring it indoors for the winter if you have space in your shed or garage. Putting a little oil on your gates and latches is also a good move, as this will ensure they open and shut smoothly even in cold weather.
Feed the Birds
This might seem like an unusual priority for this list, but birds do a great job in keeping pests at bay. Therefore, it is in all gardeners’ interests to make sure they come to your garden regularly for food, especially because their usual food sources might be reduced at this time of year.
Our feathered friends appreciate nuts, seeds and fat balls. However, do opt for a proper, purpose-built feeder because squirrels, pigeons and other creatures can get all the food first if it’s left on a traditional bird table.
Protect Your Plants
If you have any plants in pots, move them to a more sheltered spot that is less vulnerable to frost. Better still, move them inside to a greenhouse, porch or shed if you can. If they can’t be moved, consider wrapping them in bubble polythene, particularly if frost is forecast.
For shrubs and flowers in beds, putting down a fresh layer of mulch will protect them against heavy rain. Straw or bracken placed around the bases of tender shrubs and climbers will protect them against falling temperatures.
Planting…
Even though its December, there is still some planting you can do – as long as the winter is mild enough. You can get a good head start with some early blooms like sweet peas, pelargoniums, and snapdragons. However, these may need to be planted indoors and propagated first. Should you choose to plant them outside, avoid spots that are too sunny because this could damage seedlings.
Deciduous trees and shrubs can also still be planted and transplanted during the winter months.
…and Pruning
Now is the perfect time to give larger plants a really good cutback because you won’t be destroying any new growth. For example, overgrown hedges and shrubs should be pruned while they are dormant. Climbing roses should also be pruned between now and February.
In addition, holly and ivy, as well as other berried shrubs and flowers, make ideal Christmas decorations – a perfect festive gift from pruning.
High-Quality Timber Products from Nelson Potter
We are continuing to supply garden buildings, fencing products, decking and timber throughout the latest lockdown restrictions. You can still make purchases through our click and collect service, even though our yards are closed for purchases and general browsing. You can also submit your order online, and we will deliver it to you. However, this will be a kerbside non-contact delivery because of the latest Government restrictions.
At the moment we are fulfilling all orders within eight working days. To check out our online shop, click here.