Changeable winter advice
Living in Ireland we’re used to unpredictable weather, it’s cold and dry one day and wet and mild the next. Here are a few key tips to deal with these different weather conditions:
Garden Advice for a Wet & Mild Winter
- The mild weather means you can get out and about in the gardening without freezing your fingers off.
- Dig over any open ground you may have to prepare it for planting in spring, however you should try to avoid digging if there’s a heavy spell of rain forecast as this can damage your soil structure – keep an eye on the forecasts.
- Bare rooted trees, shrubs and hardy container trees can be planted during November.
- Top Tip – If your garden does become water logged use a garden fork to pierce the grass, this will aid drainage.
Garden Advice for a Cold & Dry Winter
- Dry, cold winds can damage delicate plants especially if they’ve only been planted this year, such as evergreens. Protect your delicate plants by wrapping with horticultural fleece.
- Try to avoid walking on frosted lawns and this will damage the grass underneath.
No matter what….
- Protect tender plants.
- Check all tree ties and stakes are secure.
- Mulch around all trees and shrubs before the winter weather hits.
- Protect pots from frost or use frost-proof pots.
Recommendations
- Tender bulbs should be gently lifted and stored in a dry place during the cold weather
- Cardboard and newspaper can be used to protect shrubs from the frost
- Don’t forget to water your plants in the winter if it hasn’t been a particularly wet one
Get in Touch!
If you have any questions about changeable winter conditions contact us on social media- @CountryLifeGC (Links in footer). If you have a specific problem such as pest damage it’s really helpful to send us a picture- we’d love to help!
