How to look after your plants in winter

Our Lettings Supervisor and avid gardener, Keely Watson is back with tips on how to look after your garden over winter!

• Protect plants

Wrap shrubs (like tree ferns, cannas, bananas, cordylines) with horticultural fleece or burlap sacks to protect them from frost.

• Mulch borders

Apply manure, compost, or leaf mould to insulate roots and improve soil. Worms will pull it down over winter which helps condition your soil for spring.

• Plant bulbs

There's still time to plant tulips (until mid-December), plus crocus, daffodils, and alliums if you haven’t already!

• Keep a messy spot for wildlife

Clear fallen leaves from lawns and paths but leave a few sheltered “messy” spots for wildlife.

• Care for tools

Clean, oil, and sharpen tools. Store them somewhere dry to stop them from rusting! Keep any electric or petrol tools off damp floors.

• Check pots & beds

Make sure there's good drainage in your pots and beds to prevent waterlogging. Remove a little old compost from pots and top up with fresh.

• Wildlife help

Clean your bird feeders and birdbaths - the birds will help control pests next spring!

• Plan for spring

Order seeds early and make notes of what worked well this year.