7 Gardening jobs to complete before winter

1. Clean up debris

Late autumn is an ideal time to cut plants back and make space in the garden. Clearing debris not only keeps your garden looking tidy but protects plants by preventing diseases and keeping pests under control. That said, if you can leave a few dry stems and seedheads intact, they will provide food and shelter for wildlife over the winter…and they’ll look beautiful on a frosty day!

To clear your garden ahead of winter, you could:

2. Prune trees and shrubs

By pruning back dead, diseased or damaged wood or foliage from your plants at the right times of year, you’ll improve the health of trees and shrubs and help them focus their energy on new growth.

Between November and February, many plants enter a dormant phase. This is the ideal time to trim many deciduous trees and shrubs, although tender plants and some fruit trees should be left alone at this point in the year.

Rose bushes can be pruned lightly in November to help them survive winter weather and strong winds. Climbing roses are best pruned earlier in the autumn.

Shrubs like Buddleja and Lavatera that are pruned hard in spring can be cut back by half now to make them more resilient against inclement weather.

Before pruning, take a moment to research the specific needs of each plant. Some are best pruned in winter, while others respond better to being cut back in spring and won’t cope well with a trim at the wrong time of year!

3. Mulch beds

Tucking your garden beds up in mulch is a great way to prepare them for winter. A layer of insulating organic matter will protect plant roots from the cold, improve soil health, conserve moisture and keep weeds at bay.

The best mulches for your garden look good, insulate well and are full of beneficial nutrients that will improve your soil. Our go-to mulches are:

Wondering how to mulch your garden? Once you’ve weeded your beds, use a spade or fork to spread a layer of mulch (ideally 5-10 cm thick) around the base of your plants, leaving a small area of clear space around the base of the stems. 

4. Protect tender plants

‘Overwintering’ is the act of getting plants ready for winter. In the UK, tender plants need protection from cold weather, as they come from warmer parts of the world and are unlikely to survive a frost.

Overwintering can involve:

Before taking potted plants indoors, give them a check-over to avoid spreading unwanted pests and diseases. If you’re leaving hardy pot plants outdoors, raise the containers on pot feet or bricks to help rainwater drain through and prevent waterlogging.

If particularly cold, wet or windy weather is forecast, consider adding temporary covers to half-hardy plants or those in exposed positions in the garden. Protective covers like horticultural fleece, hessian or frost blankets can help to see your garden through winter chills and storms.