There is nothing better than the idea of going into hibernation over the next few months, but just because it is getting dark and cold, it does not mean things stop in the garden, and winter is a great time to do some tidying up and prep work for spring (with extra layers on obviously). If you leave it too late when things start to flourish, the entangled mess and growth could feel overwhelming and may never get addressed.
So here are some tasks to look at.
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Pruning fruit trees in winter is essential, to shape the tree and get old wood and growth off. This helps encourage spring growth
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Mulching, to keep the weeds down and the water in – not that we have to worry about that much at the moment, its been bucking down here for weeks, fantastic!
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Feed the soil – compost, blood and bone, mature manure, letting it all settle in before spring
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Be on the outlook for frost, it can ruin a crop instantly
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Clean out the garden shed and sharpen tools and general tidy up and pull out – much easier to do that when the ground is wet, unlike the concrete we see later in the year
And of course, there is plenty to sow – see a guide list below.
Enjoy!
Peter
