Prepare your garden for winter
Summer is officially over for another year, and as we head into the Autumn, there is no better time to start thinking about preparing your garden for the bitter weather ahead. With adequate planning and a few preventative measures, you can ensure that your garden is cared for throughout the winter. Turning a blind eye to your garden in the run-up to the colder months will almost certainly lead to headaches come Spring. In this article, our Chesterfield landscapers explore the best tips and tricks for preparing your garden for the winter.
Avoid frozen taps
It’s essential you take preventative measures to avoid frost damage to your outdoor taps and pipework as temperatures drop. Leaving water to freeze inside your pipes can cause leaks and costly damage. Amidst the current cost of living crisis, the last thing you need is a repair bill! The pipes connecting your tap feature a shut-off valve to stop the water supply. If there is no water inside, there is nothing to freeze, and you can avoid damage. If you need to use your outdoor tap through the winter, our landscape gardeners in Chesterfield recommend following these steps after each use.
Organise your garden shed
Keeping your shed organised will save you time in the future. By spending a few hours sorting through the contents of your shed before the winter, you will be able to find everything you need in the months ahead and potentially create space for anything you need to store away. One thing is for sure; you will be glad you organised your shed when it comes to Spring! Whilst you are at it, Autumn is the perfect time to ensure that your garden tools are in tip-top condition; if not, give them some TLC, and they will be good to go when you need them next.
Look after your garden furniture
Purchasing a new set of quality garden furniture, such as this one from Moda, is an investment you should want to last. Our landscapers in Chesterfield always look after their furniture to extend its lifespan as far as possible! If you have followed our advice in the previous point, perhaps you will have space in your shed to accommodate your garden furniture. It’s unlikely you will need it through the winter, so putting it away is a wise idea. We understand that not everyone has a garden shed; if that is you, we advise purchasing a robust tarpaulin to offer protection. If you have timber pieces, you should sand down where possible and recoat with a suitable varnish; this will almost always add to the longevity of your wooden furniture.
Ensure that your garden is well-lit
You will be thankful for any additional light as the days get shorter and the nights longer. Whether taking the dog to the garden or putting the bins outside, having an adequately lit garden at night-time will make a huge difference. From a safety perspective, better lighting will allow you to mitigate the risk of tripping and slipping in icy conditions. There’s nothing worse than falling over when it is freezing outside!
Here at Chesterfield Landscapes, the team are particularly fond of Philips Hue, the industry-leading outdoor lighting solution. Make your garden smarter by integrating Hue into the design of your new landscape; you can choose from an array of gorgeous fittings and fixtures – look at the whole range on the Philips Hue website.
Would you like to evaluate the best lights for your garden? We specialise in digital garden designs, where you can work with a professional garden designer in Chesterfield to create a lighting plan that will suit your budget and requirements.
Keep your pond in check
One of the most troublesome features of any garden design when it comes to maintenance is a pond. Keeping on top of your pond through the winter months is much more challenging due to the adverse weather conditions we experience. But you can mitigate the extra work you must complete by covering your pond with suitable netting that will collect any debris deposited by the unpredictable weather conditions of a Chesterfield winter. Every so often through the winter, remove the net, empty any rubbish into your bin, and reapply.
Give your whole garden a deep clean
As part of your ongoing yearly garden maintenance schedule, our Chesterfield landscape gardeners suggest undertaking a deep-clean of your entire garden in the Autumn and spring; this will allow you to keep your garden looking its best. It’s essential to clean your garden ahead of the winter to ensure that everywhere is accessible; you can do this by trimming back any overgrown bushes and giving your lawn one last mow before packing the mower away for the winter and generally ensuring that your garden is left in a suitable condition. Jet washing your paving is advisable twice per year, and our landscape gardeners in Chesterfield do that as part of our deep-cleaning process. It’s advisable to look after your paving to increase its longevity and to ensure that any mossy deposits are removed as they can become hazardous in the wetter weather.
Care for your lawn
Keeping a lawn looking pristine is potentially the most challenging part of maintaining a domestic garden. If you have decided to undertake this yourself, you should ensure that you care for your grass properly as we enter the winter. Most people think that the lawn will look after itself, but you may notice moss begin to grow on the surface – to remove this, you should use a spring rake; for more significant moss deposits, you should look for a chemical solution.
Sometimes a lawn is just too far gone, and, in those cases, it may be time to think about a replacement. If you would like to explore the potential of lifting and relaying a new lawn at your property, you can arrange an appointment with one of our Chesterfield landscape gardeners.
Clear out your compost bin
As you prepare your garden for winter, you will naturally spend some time trimming back some plants and hedges. If you have a compost bin, you will probably find that it has started to become very full at this time of year. To make room for all the new trimmings to go in your compost bin, make sure you empty it first and spread the years’ compost around your garden.
The key to a well-kept garden is regular maintenance. If you want a garden that looks nice all year round, you must prepare your garden for winter before it becomes too cold and miserable to get your hands dirty. If you’re looking for a landscaper in Chesterfield to help you prepare your garden for winter, do not hesitate to contact us. For information on all the other services we offer, click here.
