With autumn knocking at the door, most people think of curling up under warm blankets with a cup of hot chocolate and their favorite movie on. But for us, gardening enthusiasts, it’s the time of the year when we prepare our gardens to survive the harsh winter frost.
And trust us when we say this: the maintenance efforts you make in the autumn will have you thanking yourself when spring arrives, when you can actually see the fruit of your labor. That being said, let’s jump into some essential maintenance tips to ensure as the winter fog settles, you have a vibrant and beautiful garden to enjoy!
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Trimming—the non-negotiable
Trimming and pruning in the winter means healthier and stronger growth in the spring. Besides, it gives your plants and garden a very tidy appearance even in the winter. Depending on the kind of plant species you have, you can generally trim up to three-quarters of the branches without any worries. However, make sure to use a high-quality trimmer. You want to cut the branches, not break them! The safest time to trim/prune your plants is until the middle of October. However, it’s okay even if you get late by a few days. In fact, some plants are even beneficial to prune in the late autumn…or even winter.
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Don’t forget to collect the leaves.
Autumn is that time of the year when your garden is filled with all sorts of colorful leaves. For some, it might seem aesthetic; for others, it means a lot of physical labor. Whichever group of people you belong to, collect at least some, if not all, of the fallen leaves from your garden for many practical reasons. While these collected leaves can serve as a source of food for various animals, you can also use them as organic food for your plants in the form of compost. If you love to care for nature, these leaves could also serve as a natural shelter for different animals.
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Keep your mower out
While the grass may grow slower than usual in the winter, it by no means implies that you should stop mowing your lawn at all. Of course your lawn will require a little bit of attention every now and then. However, make sure not to cut the grass shorter than 5 centimeters. Other tasks like aerating, and fertilizing are just the cherry on top. Doing all these tasks together will make sure your lawn remains in top condition all year round, regardless of the season. If you haven’t got the time to do it all by yourself, hiring a professional will help.
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Bring the houseplants in and plant some spring bulbs.
Ok, this is not directly related to garden maintenance, but the winter frost can absolutely obliterate the houseplants. Depending on the species you have in your garden, some plants might require to be placed inside before the temperature even hits 45°F, which is the typical temp for most of the plants to be shifted inside. As for the spring bulbs, there’s a variety of flowers you can choose from, including but not limited to daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips. You are going to love the beautiful display of colors they are going to put on once the spring hits.
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Plant and transplant
Autumn is also the ideal weather for planting and transplanting plants, since the soil is still relatively warm from the summers, and the plants have plenty of time to acclimate to their new location. Thanks to the regular rainfall and mild temperature, the ground also won’t dry out as quickly, saving you a lot of time and effort when it comes to watering and all. Other than planting the usual spring bulbs as mentioned earlier, you can also plant other perennial shrubs, flowers, and trees for an even better-looking garden in the later months of the year.
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Take good care of your soil.
Plants don’t actually grow or require many nutrients in the winter to survive. But that doesn’t mean you should stop caring about the soil at all. A healthy soil in the winter offers the required structure for plants to grow in the spring, when the growth is at its peak. In other words, adding a little bit of fertilizer and compost in the soil is going to go a long way when it comes to keeping your plants stronger, healthier, and well prepared to survive the winter frost, as well as grow to their max as the season changes.
Need Help With Your Garden Maintenance?
Taking care of your garden all by yourself can be tedious. Sometimes, you don’t have time; other times, you just don’t have the energy to spend your leisure time on cleaning your garden. Or maybe, you just don’t know how to do things and leave things to the professionals to avoid potential mess ups. If you fall in any of the above categories, feel free to get in touch. At HQ Gardening, we provide high-quality gardening maintenance services all across the UK, making sure your garden thrives every season! Contact us today to transform and maintain your garden in its best shape!