Your Mid-Winter Gardening Checklist

While the weather might not be so favourable for getting out in the garden, there’s actually plenty to be done during the winter months. So if you can find some sunshine inbetween the rain, check these things off your to-do list to get your garden ready for spring growth.

Tidying up

If autumn has done a great job of filling up your front and/or back yard with leaves, everything will look a lot tidier once they have been raked and popped in the garden bin. Deadhead your flowering plants that are past their prime, this will help to encourage new growth. And it’s also a good time to prune back shrubs and trees that might have got a bit carried away over the warmer months.

Check stakes are secure against high winds, give the tools a clean and sharpen so they are primed for action, and add a fresh layer of mulch to help minimise weeds.

Get your 5+ a day

What better way to enjoy a healthy diet than to grow your own fruit and vegetables? And with food prices continuing to increase, a little time and effort could see big savings for your back pocket.

Believe it or not, but it’s time to start planting strawberries! And you can do that alongside your traditional winter veggie seeds, like beans, onion, broccoli, cabbage and leek (it’s best to keep them protected from heavy rain if possible – they need a chance to get established).

Grab yourself some seed potatoes and allow them to shoot 1 to 2cm indoors (in a cool, well-lit spot), before transporting them outside. And if you live in a place where Jack Frost often comes knocking, make sure you protect your veggie patch with a frost cloth.

Many fruit trees also arrive in the nurseries and garden centres in June/July, so if you’re looking for a spring or summer crop, get in to your local retailer to grab your pick of the bunch.

What to plant now

Aside from fruit and veggies, there are quite a few plants that can bring new life to your garden, even in the depths of winter! From daphne to hellebores, pansies, viola and cyclamen – there’s plenty of ways to add a lovely pop of colour to break up those dreary, grey days. And if you’re fond of roses, now is a great time to plant them.

Prep for the warmer months

If you’re wanting to do a rearrangement of shrubs and small trees in your garden, before spring is ideal, and make sure to keep their roots moist while they are on the move. This will give them time to get settled before the growing season begins.

You should also look to prepare your garden beds for spring planting by adding in fertilisers and covering with pea straw. Come August you can start to plant summer bulbs, you could also start seeding tomato, basil and chilli indoors, before moving them outside in spring.

Indoor greenery

Indoor plants have exploded in popularity over the past few years, and it’s easy to see why. Their greenery certainly adds a refreshing colour to an interior space, and while you’re admiring how they look, they are hard at work cleaning the air in your home.

House plants do have a bit of a hard time during winter, with the heating cranked up during our waking hours – to then being left in the cold on those extra chilly mornings. It’s important to reduce your watering schedule, they usually need less when the temperature drops. And help them soak up as much sun as possible for their photosynthesis, by giving their leaves a wipe with a damp clean cloth, and make sure your windows are clean to let natural light in. Remove any dead leaves, and in late August you can begin repotting (if needed) and feeding.

Well, that just goes to show why our village gardeners are always so busy – because rain or shine there is always something that needs to be done. And don’t they do a wonderful job.

Happy winter gardening!