It’s not just you that needs to prepare for the cold and shorter days. Your garden could use a little help too. You probably already noticed. Days are getting shorter, there is less sunlight and the wind is getting chilly. Perhaps you’ve already had the heating on, or are sleeping under a thicker duvet again. In other words, autumn! Summer is increasingly turning its back on you. And nature often shows it with a heavy downpour. Not only you and your house need to be winterised. Your garden could use some help too. Wouldn’t you rather roll up your sleeves yourself? Then you can also choose to hire a landscaping company.
Time to give nature a hand!
For winterizing your garden you need the following supplies:
- Garden hoe
- Shovel
- Hedge trimmer
- Gardening gloves
- A bucket, bin bag or container
1. Remove dead flowers and plants
Tools collected? Then it’s time to remove all the dead plants and flowers. Do you have plants that only bloom once? Then remove the entire plant. The roots too! Don’t you do this? Then there’s a chance that the roots or part of the trunk will rot. And of course you want to prevent that!
It is also best to remove exhausted flowers. When it gets colder, do not prune the entire plant immediately. This gives you something to look at in the last few months. In addition, the flowers are a real source of food for birds. Therefore, do not immediately cut the entire plant bare! Only the dead flower.
2. Dropped leaf
We clean up most of the fallen leaves and throw them in the bin. Although the leaf can be an enormous protection against frost! So don’t rake the leaf in the bin, but move it to the border. The leaf provides good insulation and is beneficial for animals.
3. Prepare the lawn
Mow the lawn one more time before it begins to freeze. It is important not to leave the cut grass on the lawn. In the winter months it is better if there is nothing on the lawn. It is also better to remove fallen leaves and move them to the border. If too many leaves remain on the grass it can turn yellow.
4. Pruning perennials
Prune the hedge or other perennials when it is not freezing! This is best done when there are no leaves on it. This way you can see the structure well.
Pruning is also possible in spring, although it is better for the grapevine, maple and birch tree, among others, to do this before Christmas.
5. Protect plants against frost
Most plants cannot withstand frost. Before it starts to frost, at least bring in the tub plants! These plants are best placed in a shed, pantry or other cool place. Don’t forget that a plant needs light!
Other garden plants can also be protected with gauze, fleece, reed mat or bubble wrap. Carefully drape the protection over the plants. The previously added leaves at the border also protect the roots of the garden plants from the cold.
6. Shut off water
One of the easiest steps: shut off the water! Before it starts to freeze, it is important to close off the water pipes in the garden. Drain garden hoses completely. This will prevent damage caused by expanding ice.
Separate nozzles are best brought indoors.
Invert flower pots and watering cans
Are there any loose flower pots and watering cans in the garden? Turn them upside down! This will prevent water from getting into them. This water will expand during frost, which can cause damage.
Have you completed all the steps? Then the garden is more than winterized! Grab your blanket and lie down on the couch. Time for Netflix!
