What to do in the garden this Winter
- Simone Taylor
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Jobs or activities you can to do in Winter for the garden.
Enjoy Winter Flowering Plants
There are many flowers to enjoy in winter, including Hellebores, pictured, Cyclamen, Winter iris, Polyanthus, early flowering Jonquils, Galanthus, Crocus and Aconites. The flowers of some plants, such as Viburnum, Witch Hazel, Winter Sweet, Sweet Box and Daphne are strongly scented.
Appreciate Evergreens and Grasses
Evergreens, such as hedges, topiary and shrubs, add structure in the garden year round but come to to their own in winter. There are many evergreens to choose from including Daphne, Sarcococca confusa, pictured, Dodonea viscosa, Liriope, Rosemary and Westringia. Lots of the winter flowering plants have the added advantage of strongly scented flowers, too.
Grasses reveal a stricking beauty in Winter, their golden seed heads catch the low light, and shimmer with frost in the early mornings. Their stems sway gently in the breeze, adding movement and life to a barer garden. Even when dormant, ornamental grasses provide structure and texture.
Plant Bare Rooted Plants
Winter is the time for planting bare-root plants (ie plants sold without soil around their roots). Bare rooted is an economical way of buying plants. Common bare-root plants include roses, fruit trees, and asparagus.
Undertake Pruning
Winter is a great time to do some pruning. It can be done now to promote plant vigour and revive plants that have become large and unproductive. When the leaves have fallen it’s easier to see a plant’s framework. Pruning in winter can also help with the control, or prevention of disease, by removing any dead, diseased and dying material. Plants benefiting from winter pruning include roses, clematis, winter dormant perennials and fruit bushes/trees which require a reshape and invigorating. (Note: Summer pruning is better for controlling growth in fruit trees)
Sharpen and Service Tools
Those rainy days in winter are a great time to sharpen tools, service the lawnmower and clean the garden shed or green house. In addition it is a good time to clean pots and make newspaper ones in preparation for seedlings in Spring.
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