Prepare your garden for the winter months ahead with Matt James’ selection of projects to tackle:
- Clear up fallen leaves, especially those in and around lawns and ponds.
- Start planting tulips.
- Continue dividing congested perennials: dig up, split into fist-sized clumps, and replant to the same depth with as much root as possible.
- Plant bare-root trees, shrubs and roses. Trees over one metre will need staking for support, especially in exposed locations.
- Finish planting tubs and baskets with evergreen perennials, ornamental grasses, winter pansies and polyanthus.
- Use special pot feet or bricks to raise containers off the ground for drainage, and to prevent cracking in severe frosts.
- Cover wooden garden furniture to protect it from winter weather.
- Prune back long shoots on tall bush roses by a third to stop strong winds rocking them.
- Clean out bird boxes and put out fresh water and food.
- Take 25cm long hardwood cuttings of red and white currants, blackcurrants and gooseberries.
- It’s the last chance to create new lawns from turf; choose a dry day when the soil’s not frozen or waterlogged.
- Check houseplants aren’t drying out from central heating. Move them to a bright but cooler spot and keep the compost moist.
- Dig over the veggie patch; leave soil in large clumps and let the weather break it down into a crumbly finish.
