Preparing the garden for winter comes down to a short run of jobs done in the right order, and beginners can spread them across the colder months instead of trying to finish everything in one weekend. The four sections below follow the calendar, starting in October and finishing in January, with each month covering what can be done in a morning or two.
October Lawn, Leaf and Bulb Jobs
Give the lawn a last cut with the blades set higher than in summer, then rake the leaves off the grass because a damp layer left on top blocks light and encourages moss. Patch bare spots with grass seed and let the leaves rot down into leaf mould in a wire bin. Daffodils and other early spring bulbs can go in now, and planting tulips slightly later, usually from late October into November, lowers the risk of tulip fire. Plant bulbs at two to three times their own depth, and mix a little grit into heavy soil.
November Shed, Tool and Water Butt Jobs
The shed itself: Pick a dry day to look over the timber, treat bare or weathered boards with preservative, and check the roof felt and door seals while you’re there. Treating the timber shows how much life an older building has left, and one of the quality garden sheds made from pressure-treated timber is a durable replacement for wet winters.
Tools: Scrape off soil, wipe the metal parts with an oily rag, sharpen the secateurs and hang everything off the floor so damp can’t creep up the handles. Clean the mower and run its fuel down before storage. Keep spades and forks where air can circulate, and take old chemicals to a waste site.
Water butts: Disconnect the diverter from the downpipe, drain the butt most of the way and leave the tap open so any ice has room to expand without splitting it. Scrub the inside with a stiff brush while it’s empty, then fit the lid so leaves and debris stay out.
December Pruning and Frost Protection
Prune apple and pear trees while they’re dormant, taking out dead, crossing and rubbing branches first, and leave roses until late winter. Move tender pots against the house wall or into an unheated porch, and wrap anything that has to stay outside, using a heavier 30g fleece for the most tender plants because a standard 17g sheet only holds off light frost. A layer of bark or compost over exposed roots helps insulate the soil as well. Take fleece off during mild spells if it’s touching the plants, since it cuts out winter light.
January Checks and Planning
After the first storms, walk round with a bucket of ties and check the stakes, plant supports, fleece and pot feet, and look at the shed roof after heavy rain. Firm back any newly planted shrubs that frost has lifted, and knock heavy snow off evergreen branches. The quiet weeks suit ordering seeds and marking where bulbs are due, so nothing gets dug up by mistake in spring. Everything on this list fits into a morning or two each month, which makes the routine easy to repeat next year.