Gardening pro reveals job you must do NOW to stop huge issue in spring – plus how to winter-proof your space in no time
AS October gets underway, it’s time to start preparing your garden for the upcoming winter months.
And according to a gardening pro, there’s an important job you need to do now to stop weeds becoming a huge issue next spring.
Not only this, but thanks to the green-fingered expert, there’s five things gardeners should do to winter-proof their gardens – and don’t worry, it’s super simple.
As the temperature drops and rainfall increases, our gardens are one of the first things to be affected by the seasonal change.
But luckily for you, Emily Green, an expert at Howarth Timber, has shared her top tips on how to protect your plants, shrubbery, and furniture from the winter weather.
The important job that she advised gardening enthusiasts to do this month is weeding.
It turns out that autumn is the best time to weed your garden in order to stop them becoming a huge problem next spring.
Emily claimed that weeds should be removed from the root, as she said: “As we all know, weeds may become an issue if allowed to grow wild, and if they aren’t managed early in the winter, they will become a greater problem in the spring.
“Weeds should be removed from the root, especially if they have grown through pavement joints or along garden edging.
“You might have to use a weed-killer, so try to choose one that is less harmful to the environment, and keep in mind that spraying close to your garden border may affect the development of surrounding plants.”
Not only this, but Emily also revealed the five things you need to do if you want to protect your outside space this winter.
Get tidying
If you want to shield your garden from the wet weather, it’s essential that you tidy it up.
Eliminating rubbish is key and Emily stressed the importance of removing any undesirable waste to your compost heap.
She also advised gardeners to trim perennial plants back to soil level, and make sure your potting shed is in good working condition.
However, she recommended that you should be sure to leave your soil alone as it needs protection from the miseries of winter, as over-digging can eliminate the natural decay that has contributed to the formation of a protective top layer.
In addition to this, Emily suggested that during the autumn season, gutter cleaning should be done on a regular basis to guarantee that water is constantly directed away from your property.
Flood protection
As well as this, the gardening guru stressed that protecting your garden from flooding is essential.
She advised: “Flooding can have a detrimental impact on your garden.
October gardening jobs
The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the jobs you need to tackle in October.
“It’s a good time to trim deciduous hedges – like box, yew, hawthorn, hornbean and beech – plus hedge trimmers are a great upper body workout!
Make leafmould – gather up all the fallen leaves and fill either bin bags or plastic carrier bags. Seal the top, stick a few small holes in the bag – and then store for a year or more. Free compost!
It’s unlikely you’ll get any more red tomatoes so have one final harvest and chuck the plants on the compost. See if you can get the green ones to ripen by putting in a drawer (some say with a banana). Also keep the seeds from a couple – and plant again next year if they went well.
Finish getting in your spring bulbs. Ideally you’d have done daffs and alliums, but tulips are better in the ground when the soil temperature gets a bit colder.
It’s good to leave some plant litter in the ground – it adds to the nutrients as it rots down, and provides shelter and food for insects. But remove the manky brown bits collapsing all over the lawn/winter structure.
Mulch – it not only suppresses weeds, but keeps the soil warm, improves water retention and adds a little winter duvet to your outside space.
October’s a good month for carrots, peas, asparagus, broad beans, and rhubarb.”
“As your soil becomes waterlogged, it saturates and kills the roots, so many garden plants and shrubs are unable to withstand heavy rainfall.
“So be prepared when the likelihood of heavy rain develops.”
In order to stop plants from rotting and dying, she suggested cultivating your soil all year round and consider planting them on raised beds to raise them out of harm’s way.
Flooding can occur when gutters become clogged, something that becomes increasingly more common in autumn with all the falling leaves.
Stripping back
Not only do you need to ensure that your garden is protected from flooding, but you should also focus on stripping back your plants too.
The gardening guru explained that this month, you should prune some of your plants and weed your garden, as she recommended: “Pruning your plants includes cutting off dead flowers, uprooting annual summer bloomers and pruning back your shrubbery before the first frost appears.
“Once you’ve done this, adding mulch and organic compost in and around your plants helps to protect them from the winter frost, and conserve their energy to bloom again in the spring.”
Covering up
If you don’t have an inside space to store your garden furniture, this pro has shared the importance of making sure it is covered up.
The cold weather is not pleasant for your outdoor furniture since moisture and rainy spells can generate rust and mould.
How to clean your garden soft furnishings
CLEANING your outdoor furniture and furnishings is a relatively easy task, and requires household items already in your cupboards.
Here’s what you’ll need, according to gardening expert Daniela Venturini from Wayfair…
What you’ll need include:
- A soft bristle brush
- A bucket of warm water
- Mild laundry detergent or washing up liquid
- White vinegar
- A clean damp microfibre cloth
- A clean dry towel
- Clear your furniture of excess debris
Before cleaning your outdoor furniture ensure that the surfaces are free from excess debris and dirt from your garden, and remove any outdoor cushion covers where possible, as this will make the cleaning process much easier.
- Wash down furniture with warm soapy water
In a bucket of warm water, add a few drops of mild laundry detergent or washing up liquid to create your cleaning solution. For any tougher stains, such as harsh water stains or mildew, apply undiluted white vinegar to any stains and let it sit for about an hour in the sun.
3. Use a soft bristle brush to rub away stains
Using a soft bristle brush, gently rub your cleaning solution onto your garden furniture in small circular movements. After scrubbing, take a clean damp microfibre cloth and ensure that all detergent and soap suds are removed from your garden furniture.
After cleaning, take a clean towel and absorb the majority of moisture off your garden furniture and then simply leave in the sun to dry.
Therefore, to preserve your garden aesthetic and also extend the lifespan of your furniture, it is best to store garden furniture in a shed or garage if possible.
If this is not possible, then the gardening pro suggested purchasing some thick waterproof sheet covers that can be securely secured around them.
She also advised people to store cushions in waterproof bags.
Start planting
If that wasn’t enough, Emily has also advised gardening enthusiasts to begin planting for next year.
As we make our way through October, the pro suggested that it is time to start planning for next spring by planting bulbs.
At this time of year, the soil is in its prime for planting tulips, daffodils, pansies and bluebells, so you’ll need to take action now if you want your garden to shine next year.