Five jobs to do in the garden this winter

DON’T let the cooler weather deter you from getting stuck into the garden. Here’s what to get done during winter. 1. Help the rain soak in If your soil has been dry for an extended period it can become water-repellent (hydrophobic), even after heavy rains. Remove heavy layers of autumn leaves that can stop the rain getting to the soil. Use these excess leaves to make nutrient-rich compost. 2. Get stuck into weed control With rain comes weeds. Make sure you remove weeds before they mature and set seed. 3. Get on top of those jobs This is the perfect time to get on top of ‘those jobs’ that have been niggling in the back of your mind. Do you need to relocate underperforming plants to a more suitable spot, or replace them with something else? Do you need to attend to a garden path or fix some irrigation? 4. Veggie patch-up Winter’s the time to prune your existing fruit trees or buy new ones to put in the ground. It’s also a great time for planting brassicas (such as brussels sprouts and cauliflower), lettuce and Chinese vegetables. Take the time to tidy up your veggie garden, enrich the soil with compost and start thinking about what you’re going to plant next season. 5. Take time to prune Winter is a good time to prune for structure on young deciduous trees. Hydrangea pruning can also be done now the flower buds have set. The old wood can be pruned out and the shrubs pruned back to those healthy fat flower buds for a good display next year. Rose pruning is a winter must – any time from July onwards is fine. When you’ve finished, apply a seaweed-based product to condition the soil, which will help the plant with drought tolerance, resistance to frost and attack from pests and disease.

Five jobs to do in the garden this winter

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