watchingthedaisies

10 Tasks to Prepare your Garden for Winter

IMG_8252I have just completed my autumn garden tidy up, and look forward to relaxing with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book or two…

Getting ahead in autumn means there is a lot less to do in March and April. However, every year differs, depending on weather conditions.

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Checklist

Here is my checklist that is happily completed:

  1. Prune roses.
  2. Give shrubs a haircut.
  3. Weed and mulch borders with home made compost or bark.
  4. Sow annuals direct – where they will flower.
  5. Plant spring bulbs in borders and containers.
  6. Plant wallflowers, primula, and pansies in borders and containers for winter and spring interest.
  7. Move tender plants into a sheltered spot.
  8. Leave a little foliage on some plants, and provide a log pile for mini beasts. 
  9. Put out feeders and water for birds.
  10. Wash tools and wellingtons.

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Annuals

I sowed two new varieties of poppy directly where they will flower – “Falling in Love” ( described as an ethereal, delicate and lovely mixture), and Flemish Antique ( huge blooms straight from an “Old Masters”canvas.)

Both will bloom between June and October next year.

Top Tip

I often forget all the locations of my spring bulbs, so I usually plant extra in pots to transplant later.

Dwarf narcissus, muscari, snowdrops, scilla, and allium are all awaiting new homes:

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If you enjoyed this post, you might like to read some of my other monthly gardening posts.

Brigid P. Gallagher is a retired natural medicines therapist, passionate organic gardener and author of “Watching the Daisies- Life lessons on the Importance of Slow,” a holistic memoir dedicated to the art of mindfulness and healing from debilitating illness.

41 comments

  1. Useful tips. We don’t have four seasons here but this year the monsoon is relentless. My plants are Drowning. Not much I seem to be able to do except transfer some indoors. Happy reading and hope it’s a lovely hot chocolate.

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  3. Brigid, your gleaming wellies on the table is adorable… all pristine and ready for the new season in 2020! I am impressed by your organisation and your first item in the list reminds me that I never pruned the roses this year. They were flowering until end November and I never had the heart to touch them.

    It’s always a joy to follow your garden through the year … and it doesn’t seem so long since I read about the first bulbs coming up in February!

    Enjoy the short winter break, resting as your garden is doing now! 😀

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  6. I live in a flat and have watched the workers doing quite a lot of what you describe to our communal gardens. However, I think I derive more pleasure from reading your posts than I do from watching them!

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  7. Thank you for these much needed tips. I am current away on hols so not sure what the weather is like in uk, is it too late to plant bulbs, and annuals ? Slfo, mulching I dont have home made compost can I use shop brought. Finally should I wait for Feb March now to do all these tasks?

    Thanks for another helpful post

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  17. I think we could do with a tidy up of tools and wellies, to give everything a good clean and organise it all. I did take out all of the solar lights a couple of weeks ago, gave them a clean and boxed away for next year. Great tips! It’ll be nice to see how your garden blossoms next year with all of your hard work!
    Caz xx

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