‘It’s important’: ‘Easy’ ways to ensure your garden is in ‘top shape’ this winter

This Morning: Daisy talks about January gardening tasks

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Winter can feel like a gloomy time in the garden. The flowers of high summer are a distant memory and the rain and cold weather is here to stay. However, there are still many tasks to be done. Gardening experts have shared some ideas to keep gardeners busy and lay the foundation for a great spring and summer.

Checkatrade spoke to the team at Denham Gardeners for their top tips on how to prep the garden for spring in winter, so that gardeners can have a healthy garden all year round.

Cut back certain flowers to the ground

A lot of plants naturally come to the end of their bloom once the cold season hits. 

Whereas plants like roses, raspberries, etc need their stems cut down in the winter.

The experts said: “If you’re unsure on which plants need cutting back, we recommend hiring a professional gardener so your garden is in top shape.”

Protect seasonal plants by bringing them indoors

As the winter chills are harsh, some plants are too fragile to withstand them. 

So, to ensure that they survive the harsh weather, simply pot them up and bring them indoors into the warm. 

The plants can be kept either in a greenhouse or in the home.

Such plants include Dahlias and gladiolus.

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Tidy borders and add new soil

With the winter chill, it’s the perfect time to remove any weeds, dig up any old soil and add fresh layers of soil ready for the spring.

Digging now allows the frost to break up the soil over the winter, improving the structure.

The experts explained: “Not only will it be good for the health of your borders, but it will also make them tidy so that everything is easier to manage over the winter months.

“If you don’t want to get your hands dirty though and be in the cold as little as possible, you can hire a gardener to come and do the work knowing that everything is being done properly.”

Remove fallen leaves from grass

Fallen leaves from trees and bushes will need to be removed from the grass before a lot of rain or even snow falls. 

The experts said: “If not, the leaves can end up suffocating the grass, causing damp patches and potentially mould and rotting.”

Rotting leaves provide the perfect breeding ground for unwanted pests, so it is best to remove the leaves as soon as possible.

This can be done using either a rake or leaf blower, with the leaves added to a compost pile to help create next year’s soil.

Don’t forget about houseplants

House plants will also need a little TLC in the colder months. 

Darker days mean less sunlight and warmth for your plants and so they will go into a dormant stage. 

The experts added: “It’s important not to give them the same amount of water as you would in the summer.”

Other things to remember when caring for houseplants are cleaning their leaves to remove any dust or dirt, keeping them warm and away from any draughts 

Gardeners should put them into light areas, preferably a conservatory if they have one.

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