When the cold weather draws in and the days get shorter and darker, it can be difficult to know what to do in the garden and how to care for it properly. Whilst there may not be many tasks that require a lot of time and effort, there are specific things that you can do to ensure your garden is in the best condition throughout the winter months and prevent it from suffering from the cold and wet weather.
Prevent Diseases and Pests
One of the main causes for diseases within the garden are old plants. If you allow a plant to die or begin to rot, then you are opening your garden up to a whole host of diseases which can have a very negative effect on the condition of your flower beds. Old plants don’t just look bad, they bring disease and attract pests, which is the last thing you want invading your outdoor space. When pests are attracted to an area within the garden that had rotting plants, they will use this to feed on, which in turn could result in them laying eggs. It’s time to get rid of any old or rotting plants to ensure your springtime blooms have a good chance of surviving.
Revive Your Compost
It’s quite common for people to start to neglect their compost heaps throughout the winter months, as it’s not always as obvious to maintain when the warm weather is over. It’s really important, however, to revive your compost heap during winter to ensure it’s ready for the warmer weather when summer returns. If you’re struggling with your current compost heap, online gardening stores such as Two Wests have essential compost equipment to help you perfect your composting. By clearing out your current compost heap, you can make room for the new compost when the summertime arrives.
Prepare Your Soil
Whilst many people think that preparing the soil is a job for springtime, getting this task done through the winter is actually very beneficial. By adding compost to your soil now, the nutrients have plenty of time to start breaking down and working their magic on your soil. By enriching the soil this early on, you will have a great selection of soil to work with when the springtime arrives. It makes sense to have the nutrients working away throughout the winter, when there’s not a great deal you can do, as it helps to utilise the time properly.
Check Your Equipment
Having the right equipment to maintain and care for your garden is essential, but what happens when you leave your equipment for a few months without any use or care? Well, certain items can become very worn and often start to rust if you don’t keep them in the right conditions. When storing equipment in the garden shed, for example, you may find that your tools begin to warp or crack when they get wet, so it’s important to keep them stored in a box or with covers to keep them at their best. Whilst your gardening duties may be on hold for the winter, it doesn’t mean you can’t dedicate that time to ensuring all of your gardening equipment is ready to tackle the jobs you’ve got ready for the springtime.
