Perfect Preparations to Make in the Winter for a Sensational Summer Garden

Homeowners are always looking ahead to the moment they can sit outside in their garden and enjoy the warmer weather. However, before this can happen, there are certain preparations that need to be put in place. Maintaining your garden during the winter can actually help to prepare for a sensational summer garden that has all of the beautiful elements you could ever wish for. So, when it comes to getting your garden summer ready, the work begins right now in the winter. Although you may not want to venture outside too much in the colder months, this groundwork now will pay off tenfold in a few months time. As the sun starts to shine again, you’ll thank yourself for taking some time out to ensure all of these important tasks are completed!

Stay on Top of Weeding

Weeding is probably one of the important jobs when it comes to maintaining your garden during the winter. If you allow your weeds to get out of hand, you are only making your life more difficult when the sun starts to shine again in a couple of months’ time. Investing in a weed wacker will not only make your life much easier, but it will also greatly improve the way your lawn and edges look after they’ve been dealt with.

Look After Your Lawn

As well as swiftly removing any weeds from your garden, you also need to think about lawn care and maintenance during the winter. Taking care of your lawn now is not only hugely important for your lawn’s long-term health, but it will also make sure it looks beautiful when the weather starts to improve during the summer. Mow your lawn regularly, use lawn seed to keep it green and remain consistent with your lawn care routine.

Plant Your Summer Flowers Now

Now is the ideal time to start thinking about what summer flowers you want in your garden. Leaving it too late may prevent them from blossoming at the right time, which could cause a delay with your finished product. Some of the best bulbs that are resistant to the cold weather include dahlias and begonias, which will flower beautifully in the summer months. You can also start sowing bedding plants for summer pots and borders now as it will give them time to start thriving as the weather eases. If you’re planning on planting any new climbers or roses in your garden, this is also the perfect time of year to get these jobs done!

Carry Out General Tidies

Keeping your garden generally tidy during the winter time may seem like quite a task, but it’s important to stay on top of these chores now rather than allow them to build up. Everyday winter tasks could involve sweeping leaves, picking up fallen branches, cutting the grass, removing debris, and generally keeping the space as neat and tidy as possible. This means that your garden will always be well-prepared for the warmer weather ahead. Putting these preparations in place now will provide you with a solid canvas for improvements when the sun finally decides to shine.

Perfect Your Pruning

Pruning your roses doesn’t need to be a springtime or summer activity, in fact this stage of winter is the ideal time to get pruning. Depending on the type of rose species you’re growing, you may want to check in with the specific recommendations, but February time is usually the perfect time slot. Using the right tools such as secateurs, you should cut off any dead heads or stems using downward movements. This will ensure that water doesn’t collect unnecessarily on the buds. You should also be careful not to cut more than around 5 millimeters above the bud to avoid damage to the flowers. Pruning is a therapeutic, quick and enjoyable activity that many enthusiastic gardeners love to do a couple of times each year.

Feed the Birds

During the winter, it’s so important to keep the local ecosystem in mind and make sure you’re taking care of wildlife. It’s super simple to feed the birds, especially if you’re blessed to have even the smallest of outdoor spaces. It is so easy to make a homemade bird feeder, in fact, you probably have most of the ingredients hidden inside your kitchen cupboards at home right now. You can use a pinecone as the base of your bird feed and use peanut butter to stick sunflower seeds, crumbled cheese, cooked rice, breadcrumbs, small leftovers or softened dried fruits for the most delicious bird treat. The beautiful birds in your local neighborhood will certainly thank you for thinking of them during the winter when gathering food can be extra tricky for them!

Get Started With Fruit and Veg Sowing

Even though there’s still a chill in the air, it’s always the right time to start sowing early crops of fruits and vegetables. Even if you’re a beginner, this exciting time of year will get you in the spirit of gardening so that you can look forward to your fresh produce in just a few month’s time. Now would be the ideal time of year to sow peppers, chillies, tomatoes and eggplants if you have a covered, or indoor space that would be appropriate. Similarly, you could also start an early crop of onions, shallots and carrots if you have coverings to keep them protected from harsh climates. As the weather starts to warm up slightly, you can then plant potatoes, parsnips, strawberries, and peas. All of your hard work now will be so beneficial to you and your family during the summer months when you have fresh fruit and vegetables readily available in your backyard!

With so many super speedy methods in place, you can be sure that your garden is as prepared as possible for the incoming sunshine. Whether you’re feeding the bird, or staying on top of weeding, there is so much that you can do before the summer months. Your future self will definitely be grateful for all of your hard work now, and you’ll soon be able to enjoy all the benefits when it really matters!

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