Jobs For The Garden This Winter
As we approach the end of the year, theres still plenty to be done in the garden. See our guide to autumn and winter maintenance in the garden. From September to November when the soil is dry enough, divide summer-flowering plants. If we end up with a very wet Autumn, or for more tender plants, delay until spring.
Divide & Take Cuttings
To divide, lift plants gently with a garden fork, working outwards from the crown’s centre to limit root damage. Shake off excess soil so that roots are clearly visible
Some plants produce individual plantlets which can simply be teased out and replanted, but for some small, fibrous-rooted plants such as lift and pull apart gently. For larger, more fibrous-rooted perennials, you may need to insert two garden forks back-to-back, pull apart and break into two smaller sections. In some cases, a sharp knife, axe or lawn edging iron may be needed to cleave the clump in two
Plants with woody crowns (e.g. Helleborus) or fleshy roots (Delphinium) require cutting with a spade or knife. Aim to produce clumps containing three to five healthy shoots
Take cuttings from fuchsias, salvias and pelargoniums, evergreen shrubs like boxwood, hebe, and camellia, and hardwood cuttings from deciduous plants such as roses, forsythia, and dogwoods.
Keep summer bedding flowering in hanging baskets and pots until the first frosts by deadheading and feeding regularly
Harvest
On a dry day, harvest your raspberries, which should continue fruiting until the first frosts, which you can eat fresh as is, or make into jams or include in baking!
Preparing for Winter
As we come into September, keep your eye on the weather for early frosts and be ready to bring tender potted plants under cover - herbs like chives and parsley can be placed on a sunny windowsill and used in cooking during winter.
November Jobs in the garden
As we approach winter, there are a couple of key points of maintenance to keep your garden up to speed.
Pond Maintenance
If you are lucky enough to have a pond in the garden, make sure to take action if it contains fish, as oxygen levels can drop if the surface freezes over. You can melt a portion of the ice by placing a hot pan on the surface, or floating a ball on a pond in cold weather can also delay freezing. Refrain from smashing the ice as the shock waves can harm fish. Keeping some of the pond ice-free also gives wildlife access to fresh drinking water.
Raise Containers onto Pot Feet to Prevent Waterlogging
The main danger during the colder weather is the compost freezing, which can kill your plants. In very wet weather, make sure that your potted plants are raised to keep the bottom of the pot out of standing water, or brought somewhere sheltered.
Protect your pots from hard frosts with a biodegradable fleece or mulch.
Watering
Though watering may still be necessary for your conifers and evergreens (especially if they are covered from the rain) your deciduous or other dormant plants will most likely need little to no watering. Always make sure to avoid watering all together if frost is forecast, and you will not need to feed your plants during the winter months
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