Winter Gardening Guide: How to Stay Warm and Get Your Garden in Top Shape
As winter rolls in and the temperatures drop, it's easy to slip on a jumper, stay indoors, and put the garden out of mind until spring. But winter offers the perfect opportunity to get a few essential maintenance and light renovation tasks ticked off ā and you'll warm up in the process! With fewer bugs and less intense sun, it's actually a great time to tackle those jobs you've been putting off.
So grab your gloves, pop the kettle on for a post-gardening cuppa, and dive into our essential winter gardening checklist to keep your outdoor space happy, healthy, and ready for the season ahead.
1. Tidy Up Your Garden
Before you start any winter gardening work, it's best to begin with a clean slate. A little bit of tidying now can save you a lot of effort come spring.
Clean Up Fallen Debris
Rake up any fallen leaves, bark, and twigs from lawns and garden beds. These can be tossed onto the compost heap to break down naturally, or the woodier pieces can be dried out and saved for your indoor fireplace or barbecue.
Clear Your Gutters
Gutters can quickly become clogged with leaf litter during autumn and winter. Prevent overflow and damage by cleaning them out. Hoselink's Long-reach Pivot Cleaner makes this job safer and easier ā it hooks easily over gutter edges, and the extendable handle means you can skip the ladder.
Weed and Remove Dead Growth
Winter rain often leads to a sudden surge in weeds. Tackle them head-on by pulling them up by the roots ā it's the best way to get rid of them without using harsh chemicals. The Hoselink Weeder makes light work of this task, helping you stay on top of garden beds and borders.
Remove any dead plants, spent flowers, and old annuals that didn't survive the cold. Keeping your beds clear will reduce the risk of disease and make room for new growth later in the season.
Neaten Up Hedges and Shrubs
Tidy up unruly hedges and overgrown shrubs. Hoselink's 2-in-1 Hedge Shears are ideal, offering multiple length options so you can reach both low and high spots without strain.
Fix Up and Refresh
Do you have a wobbly pergola or tired garden bench? Winter is a great time for light repairs. Patch up broken woodwork, retighten screws, and give timber features a lick of paint or a protective wood treatment to help them last.
Watering Reminders
In many parts of Australia, winter sprinkler bans are enforced to conserve water. This is a good time to switch off irrigation systems and let nature do its thing. Keeping the soil from becoming too wet also helps avoid waterlogging and root rot.
Compost Check
Your compost heap needs just the right balance of green and brown matter. If you've had lots of rain, your compost might be too wet ā cover it temporarily with a tarp or old carpet to protect it from further downpours and help it maintain a healthy temperature.
2. Winter Pruning Know-How
Winter is prime time for pruning. With trees and shrubs dormant, it's easier to see their structure and make brilliant cuts that promote future growth.
Prune Fruit Trees
Once the leaves have dropped, fruit trees are ready for a winter haircut. Prune away any dead, damaged, or diseased branches, and thin out the canopy to allow more sunlight and airflow. This encourages better fruiting come spring and summer. Hoselink's range of secateurs and cutting tools will make this job much easier and cleaner.
Tame Your Roses
Roses benefit from a hard prune during winter, typically between July and August when the risk of frost has eased. Start at the base and work your way up, cutting at a 45Ā° angle just above outward-facing buds. A good prune gives your rose bush a strong, open structure for spring growth.
Cut Back Perennials
Remove old foliage and twiggy stems from herbaceous perennials to prevent disease and give new shoots the space to emerge when the weather warms. Join Hoselink's Resident Horticulturist Ben Hayman for an in-depth tutorial below.
Manage Climbers
As winter comes to a close, it's a good time to tackle climbing plants. Remove older, woody stems and tie back fresh growth neatly so it's ready to thrive when the temperatures rise. For more information on climbing plants, check out the Get out and Garden Episode below!Ā
3. Feed and Nourish the Soil
Winter is when the garden rests ā but the soil can still be busy behind the scenes. Show your garden some love with a few key steps to enrich the soil.
Add Organic Matter
Top up your garden beds with compost, aged manure, or organic fertilisers like blood and bone. These nutrients will break down slowly over the season and be ready for spring planting.
Aerate the Soil
Turning over the soil with a Garden Fork or Hori Hori Knife helps improve drainage and oxygen flow. Just don't overdo it ā excessive digging can disturb beneficial microbes and damage soil structure.
Mulch Generously
Apply a thick layer of mulch around trees, garden beds, and even in pots. Use organic material like leaves, straw, or shredded hedge clippings. Mulch helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature ā all important during winter.
4. Get Ready for the Next Growing Season
Even though it may not seem like it, now is the perfect time to prepare for spring. Planning and planting ahead ensures you're ready to hit the ground running when things warm up.
Plan and Purchase Seeds
Spend a cosy afternoon browsing seed catalogues or visiting your local nursery. Think about what you'd like to grow, and consider companion planting to naturally deter pests and attract pollinators. For example, garlic planted near roses helps ward off aphids.
Start Seedlings Indoors
Many vegetables can be started now in greenhouses, cold frames, or even sunny windowsills. Try onions, leeks, spinach, cabbage, and cauliflower.
Direct Sow in Warmer Zones
In frost-free or milder climates, now's the time to start sowing hardy vegetables outdoors. Root veggies like carrots, parsnips, and beetroot can be planted alongside broccoli, potatoes, onions, and lettuce.
Plant Bare-Root Varieties
Winter is the best time to plant bare-root fruit trees like apples, plums, and peaches, as well as perennials like asparagus, rhubarb, and berries. These plants are sold dormant and will establish strong roots before spring growth begins.
Didn't Plant Spring Bulbs?
No worries! If you missed autumn bulb planting, you can still sneak in a few late bloomers at the end of winter for a surprise splash of colour in Summer.
Fertilise Winter Bloomers
For winter-flowering bulbs like jonquils or snowdrops, apply a gentle fertiliser when the buds appear to help them along.
5. Protect Your Plants from Frost
Australia's winter climate varies widely ā while some areas remain mild, others can experience biting frosts. Protecting sensitive plants from cold damage is key.
Use Plant Covers
For very cold nights, wrap vulnerable plants in horticultural fleece, hessian, or frost cloth. Be sure to remove covers during the day so plants can receive some sunlight and freshĀ air.
Relocate Potted Plants
Move warmth-loving or delicate potted plants under cover ā a porch, pergola, or greenhouse can offer just enough protection from frost and wind.
Insulate Pots
Wrap outdoor pots with bubble wrap, hessian, or fabric to keep roots snug and protected from freezing.
Add an Extra Layer to Garden Beds
Use straw, sugarcane mulch, or wood chips over flower and veggie beds to act as insulation. This protects roots and bulbs, especially during cold snaps.
Final Thoughts
While it may be tempting to hibernate through winter, a bit of garden maintenance during the colder months can set you up for an easier, more productive spring. Whether you're pruning, planting, or simply tidying up, there's plenty to do to keep your outdoor space in top shape.
And remember ā gardening tasks can vary greatly depending on where you live in Australia. Tropical, temperate, arid, or alpine, each climate zone has its own rhythm, so do a little research and tailor your to-do list to your local conditions.
So rug up, grab your tools, and enjoy the fresh air ā your garden will thank you come spring!
