Winter Coming is

These days few gardeners put their garden ‘to bed’ for winter, as was common in the past. Milder winter weather, year-round planting, and the fact that many of us enjoy being outdoors during the colder months, mean we no longer batten down the hatches in autumn, retreat indoors, and emerge again in spring.

Still, as autumn turns into winter, some things do need doing to get the garden ready. This quieter time of year is also a good opportunity to take stock, get organised and catch up on those jobs that get put off during busier times, plus any outstanding repairs.

In many gardens that open to the public over spring and summer, closing the gates to visitors at the end of the autumn means there’s time to tackle larger jobs and renovation work that might not have been possible earlier in the year.