Out & About Winter 2018

GARDEN STATE It’s not too late to carry out a bit of garden maintenance, before the really cold weather sets in – and it will stand you in good stead for the spring, with everything as spick and span as it can be over the winter GARDENING

Lawn maintenance The low temperatures and wet conditions can damage and affect your lawn, so make sure to tend to it before the worst of winter arrives. Clearing the lawn of leaves will mean that fewer areas are blocked from sunlight and dry, brown patches on the grass will not appear. If the weather is still clement enough to allow you to do a quick mow, be sure not to cut the grass shorter than around five centimetres as the longer the grass, the better it can reach the sunlight and cope during the darker days of winter.

Mop the deck If you have decking, giving it a little spruce up from time to time really does help, especially in the winter. Allowing leaves and other debris to build up on your decking can be quite damaging. If left long enough, they will begin to mulch and settle into the cracks and grooves, which in turn will lead to mould and algae. Even a simple sweep once a week can help to reduce the risk of damaging your decking. Giving it a proper cleaning once in a while will also be extremely beneficial. A power cleaner makes it much easier to remove mould, mildew and avoids you having to work too hard at scrubbing.

Springclean the greenhouse Now is the perfect time to give your greenhouse the treatment it deserves, as you won’t be doing it in the sweltering summer heat or the snow blizzards of late winter. Cleaning the inside of your greenhouse is essential to ensure that no pests or diseases build up. Use a good disinfectant to spruce it up – you can also use it on patios and driveways to prevent algae settling in.

Maintain your equipment Keeping your garden equipment in a good condition is essential to keeping your garden in a good condition as well. Send your lawn mower off for a service before it’s stowed away until the spring, to make sure it’s working at its best. Other tools such as your spades and forks will also benefit from a good clean. The winter months are a crucial time for both lawn and garden care. The cooler weather doesn’t mean you should stop cutting and watering your lawn. This time of the year is also the perfect time for planting evergreens,

shrubs and flowers to help pollinators survive the winter. You’ll definitely feel the benefits of doing so come spring.

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