Now is definitely the time to think about the winter gardening needs. After all the activities of spring through summer when everything becomes so alive and full of bright life, we are now reaching the winding down and dormant time. To make it easier on the gardener, who may well have other critical inside tasks, here are some handy tips on how to prepare the garden for winter:
. Dig up all annual flowers that are spent and using up what’s left of vital elements; Protect any delicate permanent shrubs and plants with garden wrapping, or wooly blankets no longer needed; Tidy up the lawn of all loose leaves – these can introduce damper patches and leave possible infection.
, Dig up as many weeds as will come out completely – don’t just pull the heads off, dig the root out with a proper tool made for the purpose; Add organic material to the soil – compost or soil impover will over the winter, gradually improve the clay – it works best if lightly worked in but this can be impossible if very damp claggy clay. There used to be a product called clay pellets – these were broadcast over the borders and just left on top all through frost and snow and in spring, the clay would be much more easily