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 will feel overwhelming and may never get addressed. So here are some tasks to look at.
- Pruning fruit trees in winter is essential, to shape the tree and get old wood and growth off. This helps encourage spring growth
- Clean out the garden shed and sharpen tools
- Mulching, to keep the weeds down and the water in – not that we have had any water, but apparently it is coming
- Feed the soil – compost, blood and bone, mature manure, letting it all settle in before spring.
- Be on the outlook for frost, it can ruin a crop instantly
- General tidy up and pulling out – much easier to do that when the ground is wet, unlike the concrete we are currently trying to garden in!
And of course, there is plenty to sow – see a general list below, and remember if you plant potatoes, wait until the last frost has gone, as potatoes and frost are not friends!
Enjoy!
Peter
