The festive season is upon us, which no doubt means that you’re all planning your Christmas holidays with the family… so there may be precious little time left over for gardening.
What’s great about this time of year is that there actually isn’t a huge amount to do outside, so you can relax a little and divert your attention elsewhere. But don’t be fooled into thinking that there’s nothing that needs to be done – there are still some essential tasks you should aim to keep on top of if you can.
If you have any empty borders, for example, now’s the time to dig them over and get the soil ready for planting in the springtime. Winter pruning can also be hugely beneficial for your shrubs and flowers, so get the secateurs out and have a good snip of the likes of your roses, fruit trees, wisteria and Japanese maples.
You can also think ahead and start planting certain fruits, flowers and veggies at this time of year. If you have a greenhouse, what about sowing antirrhinums and laurentia for early flowering in the summer, or if you’d rather work outside you could always start potting up winter containers with evergreen grass plants, ivy and Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’.
Now’s also the time to prepare your garden for seriously wintry weather, especially if you have lots of potted plants. Gather them altogether somewhere sheltered so you can offer them the best protection possible – and even consider wrapping them up in bubble wrap if you’re really worried about their survival.
Don’t forget about the local wildlife either! They often struggle at this time of year, so make sure you clean your bird feeders, fill them up with wild bird food and ensure your feathered friends have access to fresh water throughout the winter.
If you need any help with the landscaping of your Chester home in the new year, get in touch with us today to see what we can do.