Winter Jobs – and Christmas Gifts – for the Gardener

November and December can be a challenging time for gardeners. Now that the clocks have gone back, the amount of time you can spend working in your garden is far more limited, even if it’s not raining or very cold. Most of the plants will have stopped growing or are hiding underground (apart from the inevitable weeds).

However, there are a few tasks which can still be carried out in the garden during the coldest months – and, if you are looking to buy a festive gardening gift, then we at Nelson Potter, leading timber merchants in East Anglia, have one or two ideas as well.

Protect Your Structures

Making sure your fences and other barriers are in good condition should be any gardeners’ No. 1 priority in December, according to the Royal Horticultural Society.

Cold, wet and windy weather can damage fence posts, panels, trellises as well as the plants they are meant to protect. To help you make sure that all your garden structures are secure, we have offer plenty of fixings which will ensure they last the winter regardless of the weather.

We can also help if the odd fence panel or post needs replacing, or if there’s a gap in the wire netting protecting your plants – particularly if you are worried about chickens or rabbits.

And if your shed or fence needs a little extra protection, then invest in some preservative (and a brush if you need one).

Keep on Pruning

There are still some plants which will benefit from pruning in December. If you have any free-standing apple or pear trees, then the RHS says you ought to be looking at removing between and fifth and a tenth of the canopy, to ensure vigorous growth next year.

Acers, birches and any vines also all benefit from being cut back at this time of year. Roses (pictured) should be cut back in November to prevent wind-rock (where movement in high winds can destroy root growth).

You Can Still Go for Growth

While most plants aren’t a growing concern over the winter months, there are some which can still be planted out in November and December.

Tulip bulbs planted out now should provide a colourful display in early spring. Trees and shrubs can be planted as well, provided the ground isn’t too wet or waterlogged.

And you can grow – and harvest – some hardy vegetables such as leeks, winter cabbage, sprouts and parsnips throughout the winter, which should also ensure you have plenty of tasty, homegrown produce if you are cooking Christmas dinner!

Stock Up Your Firewood

Another job is to remember to stock up with firewood. One of the key elements of Christmas is to ensure you have a roaring fire going to keep everyone warm and cosy.

At Nelson Potter we stock a range of firewood products including nets, kindling, and bulk bags of hardwood logs. If you are looking for somewhere to store them, then we also stock log stores – for more information click here.

Gardening Gifts from Nelson Potter

While some of our products are a bit big to hide in the wardrobe, we do have one or two ideas for presents for the gardener in your life.

If you want something relatively small, check out our selection of gardening tools.

A bit on the larger side, our range of gardening furniture comes in flat-pack or kit form – making it easier to wrap, and you can assemble it at your leisure. The range includes planters, picnic tables, benches and arches. They are all made from high-quality timber and are unlikely to blow away in any winds as and when you put them up.

Our picnic tables are currently on special offer, making them a great choice for anyone looking to add dedicated furniture for relaxing or eating in their garden.

We can supply patio garden furniture to customers in Felixstowe, Ipswich and across Suffolk.

Nelson Potter – Timber Merchants in East Anglia

We offer a local delivery service which is priced on a per-load basis. Enter your postcode below the products you are interested in for an estimate. You will only pay one delivery charge per order, no matter how many items you add.

If you have any questions about any of our products, you can follow this link and fill in the online form. You can also call our Woodbridge base on 01394 460199, or our Ipswich yard on 01473 311905.