Trade secrets and advice – an expert at your fingertips.
Tender perennials will succumb to winter frost if the crown is unprotected. To keep them safe until spring cover them with bark mulch.
This is one of the worst months for working outside and it really is necessary to pick a decent day for digging and planting. Wet ground turns to mud when cultivated.
Tree stakes which are no longer needed can be removed. The hole left by the stake goes down through the root area. Fill it with a mixture of good compost with added general purpose fertilizer. It will be right where it will do most good.
Lining the inside of your greenhouse with bubble wrap will keep it warmer and reduce energy costs if you’re providing additional heat. Large sheets of white polystyrene can also be used to line the sides below staging level. Make sure you wash the glass inside and out before you start lining to maximise light levels. Remove any debris from guttering.
Water plants sparing during the winter months, as they can become waterlogged and prone to rotting. Check plants weekly and only water if their compost has dried out and avoid getting water on the leaves.
Removing pumps and filters from ponds and water features helps prevent them being damaged by freezing water during the winter. Keep ponds covered with netting to prevent fallen leaves blowing in.
