Garden Maintenance:
Winter garden tips in the UK

Mulch

Mulch is an excellent investment for your garden in terms of time and money. It helps keep the soil warm and retain moisture so plants can thrive all year round. You can use it around trees and shrubs, on paths or as an attractive ground cover.
You can buy mulch from garden centres or make your own from recycled materials such as leaves, bark chippings and straw. Mulching is also easy if you have a compost bin; add kitchen scraps to the container every week until you have enough composted material for your garden needs.

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Bulb time is not over yet

While it's true that spring bulbs will bloom in the first half of February, it's not time to give up on bulb planting just yet. You can still plant some hardy spring flowering bulbs in December and January for a second round of blooms.

Plant them outside:

• Planting your bulbs directly into the soil is ideal if you want an early start on them. If you do this, ensure they are planted as close to mid-November, so they have enough time to establish themselves before winter arrives. Remember, hardy bulbs like daffodils and snowdrops can still be planted as late as January,

•  Also, while bulbs may be frost resistant, they can still suffer damage from heavy frosts or snowfall if left unprotected by snow cover! For best results, choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil (don't plant them near trees). 

• Water regularly until growth begins in spring and mulch lightly around the base of each bulb once growth has already started just above ground level - this will help keep moisture levels consistent throughout winter.

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Sheltered spots could grow some surprises

While out in the garden, look for sheltered spots that might be good for growing some surprises. These can include walls, fences and sheds—anywhere where the sun doesn't hit directly. These areas are perfect for growing lettuces, spinach and chard (also known as Swiss chard), which are all leafy greens that like a bit of shade but prefer not to bake in full-on sunlight. Cold-hardy herbs like parsley, coriander and mint also grow well in these areas since they don't need as much warmth to thrive during winter.

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A little weeding never goes astray

Weeding may be a chore, but it can show your garden some love. Weeding regularly helps remove pests and diseases from your plants, improve the soil quality, prevent erosion and ensure that your plants get enough water and nutrients. Weeding also helps to keep weeds at bay because they compete with your plants for space in the garden.

One way to avoid weeding is by using mulch - this prevents moisture loss from occurring along with stopping weed growth. However, if you don't have any mulch available, it's best just to get stuck into those weeds!

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You can grow things in winter too

Winter is a great time to start growing things, especially if you live in the UK. The weather can be freezing and wet, but there are always windows of opportunity when we can get outside and enjoy some fresh air. You can also grow indoors, making it much easier if your garden isn't available or if you don't have one. Here are some tips on how to grow your own in winter:

• If you have access to an outdoor space, plant seeds or seedlings to start them off before spring. You'll have fresh fruit and vegetables ready for harvest by summertime!

• Why not try growing indoors? Use vertical spaces like bookshelves and wardrobes where there is plenty of room for plants such as tomatoes that need lots of sunlight.

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Conclusion

We've given you our best tips for keeping gardens going in the winter. It's not easy, but if you follow these simple guidelines and keep yourself warm (we know how cold it can get out there!), any gardener can do it! Make sure your plants are well-watered and fertilised before their dormancy period (anywhere from six weeks to six months, depending on species). Give them some protection from the elements, and take care of any weeds that appear over time—and before long, they'll be back with more blooms than ever before.