Winter garden maintenance carried out in Autumn before the cold weather takes a hold, is essential ahead of the changing season.
Plants and crops
Make sure you have lifted and moved indoors or under cover any frost tender plants.
Dahlias, Pelargoniums and similar plants can be lifted for storage of tubers and roots until the spring.
If you cannot move a particular plant, then make sure you have plenty of thermal fleece or something to wrap them up to protect against the worst frosts.
Harvest any remaining edible crops that will not survive the winter.
Remember that water can be a threat to plants too, especially those in pots. Make sure that the plants are not going to sit in water as this will starve roots of oxygen and cause them to rot.
Keep clearing leaves away to avoid slip hazzards and to deter slugs and snails.
Storm proof
Check fences for rot especially where posts and woodwork touch the ground and make good before stormy weather.
Put post caps on wooden posts to protect against wet and frost.
Make sure any old or insecure tree branches are removed and tie on or remove any that are scraping against property or greenhouses.
Frost proof
Water butts and irrigation systems may need to be turned off and drained.
Taps on water butts tend to fall victim to frost as they expand and split, so lag them with bubble wrap or foam pipe lagging to help protect the mechanism.
Remove any plastic hose connector fittings as these often fail due to frost and are expensive to replace.
Now is the time to insulate the greenhouse or polytunnel using UV resistant bubble wrap.
If you have tender plants in the greenhouse, then you may need to think about heating it or part of it.
Temperature only needs to be kept above freezing as you do not want the plants to start growing or develop mould.
Still open greenhouse or polytunnel windows on milder days to allow air to circulate.
The outdoor tap is a prime target for frost, so if you can isolate it, drain any remaining water from the pipes and leave it in the open position, it can help stop nasty bursts.
If possible, lag the outside tap against the cold weather. Use foam pipe lagging or bubble wrap around the joint and tap head.
Water proof
Full gutters will lead to water pouring into a building, so ensure these are cleared of leaves and debris.
Now is the time to clean and oil garden tools before putting them away for the winter.
A gentle rub over with WD40 or similar will really help to protect metal against damp and rust
Make sure that roofing material on shed and outdoor buildings is in tact and secure.
Paint any exposed woodwork to prevent rotting.
Replace any cracked or damaged greenhouse or cold frame glass or plastic covering.
Clean steps, paths and driveways of moss and algae which can become very slippery in the wet.
Lighting
Check that all your outdoor lighting works and visually inspect cables and connections. Ensure any repairs are carried out by a qualified electrician.
Plan for Spring
Once all this is done, grab a cuppa and cosy up with your seed catalogues or garden journal and start planning for spring. It will soon be time to begin seed sowing again.