Protect Your Garden For Winter
Now that the summer is firmly behind us, your motivation for gardening this year may be all but gone.
However, it’s important to prepare your outdoor space for the winter months so that it can handle bitter cold temperatures, heavy rain, and frost.
Put in measures to protect your garden before the worst of the weather is upon us, so that you can pick up from where you left off when spring 2026 comes around.
Build Protective Frames
It’s important to keep plants shielded, and a fantastic way of protecting them is by building a timber frame using supplies from a trustworthy builder’s merchants.
Protective structures trap heat and protect plants from frost and heavy rain, which extends their lifespan during the winter.
Building your own frames is cost-effective and isn’t too complicated, so doesn’t necessarily require landscapers. Here’s a quick overview on how to build protective frames:
- Measure the area around your plants.
- Cut four timber pieces (or buy pre-cut pieces) to form a square or rectangular wooden frame.
- Use nails or screws to join them together and create a base.
- Cover the frame with horticultural fleece or plastic sheeting and secure it to the timber for protective shelter.
Install a Layer of Mulch
Mulching is the process of covering the soil around plants with natural materials, which protects plant roots and soil structure and helps shield your garden from adverse weather conditions.
It keeps soil temperature steady and shelters plant roots from freezing and thawing issues.
Soil can retain water more effectively, which helps prevent heavy rain from washing it away so that plant roots remain healthy and hydrated.
It stops weeds from growing and taking water and nutrients that your plants need. As mulch breaks down, it gives valuable nutrients back to the soil.
Examples of mulch:
- Straw/Hay
- Shredded Leaves
- Bark
- Compost
Deep Watering
Giving your garden a deep watering before winter is advisable because it keeps your roots hydrated, which is important even when plants aren’t growing, because roots need moisture to survive during the cold season.
Moist soil is better at retaining heat than dry soil, so watering will protect roots from freezing damage.
To deep water, choose a calm, dry day towards the end of autumn before the ground has frozen and hose slowly and gently so that the water steadily soaks deep into the ground.
Aim around the base of trees, shrubs, and garden beds where the plants absorb water. Dig with a trowel to check the moisture is at least 6 to 12 inches deep into the soil.
Protect Garden Tools
Keeping your garden tools protected during winter prevents rust and corrosion, which can form from moisture, rain, snow, and frost.
Tools with wooden handles can crack, warp, or rot if they are exposed to moisture and freezing temperatures.
They can be expensive, so preserving them extends their lifespan and saves you money.
Protecting your garden tools:
- Clean and dry the tools to remove dirt and prevent rust.
- Oil the metal parts to prevent rusting and treat wooden handles to prevent cracking.
- Store your tools in a dry, covered spot and keep them off the ground to avoid moisture damage.
Prep for 2026 Landscaping Season Starts Now!
While you may not be motivated to spend much time in the garden during the winter, there are several measures you can put in place to protect your plants and equipment.
Use our techniques to make sure your garden is in good condition by the time spring comes around again.
