Winter has definitely reared its ugly head and the temperatures have certainly dropped. We’ve really felt the difference over the last week working in the gardens of Edinburgh and the Lothians and it’s only going to get colder. So over the weekend we pulled together a list of hints and tips to get your garden in shape for the inclement weather.
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It’s time for the final cut
The lawn will have a enjoyed a bit of growth during our mild autumn – 22 degrees in Aberdeen last month – warmer than their summer. Anyway there is still time to give the lawn one more cut before you give the lawnmower a good going over and pack it away for the winter. Make sure you dry it off before storing it in the back of the shed though or spring will be a slow start with lots of WD40.
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Compost your leaves
Lets face it there are leaves everywhere just now and it is all just a bit of a pain. However, in keeping with our “waste not want not” approach all these fallen leaves could be put to great use. Leafmould is great for the soil and will certainly help come the spring. There are two ways of working it. First, get some black bags and a rake. Pull all the leaves together into the bags, add a little moisture if you need (as if I hear you say), poke a few holes into the bags and store away out of site. It’s probably going to take two years to get what you need, so no time like the present!
Alternatively get some chicken wire around four canes and drop the leaves into your self made garden bin. Make sure it is off to the corner of the garden, out of sight. Again it will probably take a couple of years but it’ll be worth it in the end and in the mean time it makes the garden look much tidier.
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Lift your bulbs and store away
With the frost round the corner it’s time to get those bulbs stored away for the winter. Lift them out, trim back the roots, give them a clean off and pack them away somewhere dry such as the loft or garage until the spring.
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Plant next season’s tulips
There is still time to get your tulips in the ground. Make sure you have good, well draining soil and get them in there a significant depth. Usually between two to three times their depth. Give them a bit of width too, probably two times their width. Then keep an eye out and come the spring you’ll have a lovely flower bed or border. If your soil is not great and your stuck with clay, get the tulips into some deep plant pots. They will still brighten up your garden.
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Prune back the roses
And finally, it’s time to get the sheers out and do a bit of pruning. Make sure you cut off any cross over branches to help prevent disease and encourage your rose to grow in that lovely expansive ice-cream cone shape. Cut the stem at a 45 degree angle and make sure you get rid of the dead wood – the ones with no fresh shoot off them. They are either diseased or dead. You should be left with three or four healthy stems ready to bloom in the summer.
And we’re done.
Well almost. There’s actually lots to be getting on with in the garden over the winter so don’t think it’s time to hang up the gardening gloves yet. Just make sure you have a good waterproof.