Five jobs to prepare your garden for winter now and save hundreds of euros

With the cold winter nights approaching, most gardening jobs are being postponed until next spring.

Here are five chores you can do now and throughout the winter to keep your outdoor space looking its best. next year, and why you should install a rain barrel – if you don’t already have one.

2

2

Not only will it make your garden flourish, it is also very budget-friendly.

1. Buy a rain barrel

With water being metered to homes and the rainy season approaching, now is the best time to purchase a rain barrel for your garden.

What are the benefits of a rain barrel?

• Reduces the risk of surface water flooding
• Provides a fresh supply of rainwater – ideal for topping up ponds and washing cars
• Rainwater contains more nutrients, so your plants and gardens will love it
• Reduces your fresh water consumption during peak demand periods in the summer, lowering your bills.
• Easy to install – start saving right away

Did you know? One rain barrel can hold up to 200 litres of water, which is the equivalent of 20 full washing-up bowls.

According to Yorkshire Water, you can save around 5,000 litres of water each year by collecting rainwater in a water butt.

Otherwise, You could spend £1.50-£2.50 per hour when you use a hosepipe to water your garden next summer. Do that twice a day and you will be spending hundreds of pounds to keep your flowers looking their best.

Climate change is causing more frequent, more extreme weather events: hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters with 20-50% more rain.

Living with water

You can buy one from B&Q for just £26 and your plants will thank you.

Rainwater is also better for your plants than tap water.

Garden expert Alan Titchmarsh said on the Gardeners’ World podcast: ‘The funny thing is, there’s something about rain.

“There’s some kind of magic ingredient in it and plants always seem to grow faster from rainwater, from water that comes out of the garden hose.”

2. Collect seeds

Instead of buying brand new seeds from the same plant you grew this summer, many supermarkets will give you free seeds from the flower heads.

Our consumer reporter Laura McGuire points out that a packet of seeds can cost you £5, or “you can collect them from your summer plants and also take cuttings to propagate new plants”.

Store your seeds in a cool, dry place until the right season comes to plant them.

3. Dig out summer plants

Some plants need to be dug up, otherwise they will not survive the winter.

Dahlias are perennials that will die in winter if left in the ground. Therefore, you should dig up the tubers (the name of the roots) and store them in a cool, dark place.

4. Get rid of pests!

Although many garden pests disappear in the winter, snails and slugs thrive in damp conditions, so you need to take steps to prevent them from eating your plants.

Garden expert Robert Pavlis presented a clever snail trap with dough as bait. According to him, this trap is even more effective than beer.

You can also try making garlic spray. Peel a whole clove of garlic and mix it with about 1.5 liters of water. Then use a plant sprayer to generously coat your plants.

Snails and slugs hate the smell of garlic, so it should keep them away.

Another gardening expert shared the five flower bulbs you should plant this month — and why you should wait until November to plant tulips.

5. Compost

And when you clean up your garden at the end of summer, don’t forget to compost everything, including vegetable peelings and other organic waste.

Ideally, your compost should consist of a ratio of about two parts brown woody material or cardboard to one part green leaves.

You can buy a compost heap for as little as £20, or build one yourself using some old pallets or spare planks.

No advanced woodworking skills are required as the compost needs sufficient air holes to work properly.

Please note that some plants cannot be put on the compost heap.

Invasive species – such as Japanese knotweed and butterfly bush. These plants can survive composting and return to the environment, which can cause ecological imbalances.

Sick plants – For example, if your tomatoes have suffered from late blight, composting them could spread the disease further into your garden when you re-spread the compost.

Poisonous plants – Such as poison ivy and poison sumac. These plants can be dangerous to handle and process.

Garden tips and tricks