Get outside this winter
It might not be top of your ‘to-do list’ but your garden still requires a little maintenance during the colder months to ensure that it is fighting fit for the next year.
It's easy to retreat to the warmth of the home instead of spending time in the garden, but it still requires a little maintenance during the colder months to ensure that it is fighting fit for the next year.
Winter is the ideal time of year to prepare an area for a new lawn; simply dig out the proposed area making sure to leave some clumps of soil on the surface. These clumps will be broken down by the frost creating a great base for the new lawn. When maintaining your existing lawn it is important to realise that, on warmer days there will be some growth, but this can be kept to a minimum by not feeding the grass. However if the grass does grow longer than you'd like you can cut it. Grass that is too short can have a hard time surviving the winter, whereas grass that is too long can become brittle with the frost, so a happy medium is required.
It is important to keep weeds and moss under control throughout winter as they can quickly take over your lawn. It is also a good idea to regularly rake fallen leaves and other debris so that the grass still has access to the sunlight.
As the temperatures drop, the plants that are not killed by the frost prepare to go dormant until the warmer weather comes. Cut off any blackened stems and clear out any dead foliage such as annual flowers and vegetables to prevent diseases from spreading to other areas of the garden.
The lawnmower is rarely needed during January, so it is the perfect time to service it. Sharpen the blades and ensure that the engine is serviced to keep it in tip top condition. Empty any remaining fuel or check that the electricity lead is well maintained before storing away.
Looking ahead to the brighter weather, natural landscapes are going to be big in 2019. Planting low care shrubs, grass and perennials is a relaxed attitude to gardening and can produce a plethora of colours and textures with very little maintenance. In preparation for spring, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are all great additions to any garden, but if you don't have the space for a large bush why not try growing them in pots. In addition to this, herbs are one of the easiest plants to plant.
Finally, it was inevitable that technology would be integrated into the garden, and now there are a wide range of hi-tech gadgets available.From smart apps that remind you to water your plants and probes that tell you the health of your garden to smart lights that create ambient environments, technology has really moved on in the last couple of years and as these technology brands advance, so will the health of your garden.