Whilst some gardeners choose to hang up their tools for winter, there are many gardening jobs that can be done throughout the colder months.

Winter is a great time for tidying up the garden, taking stock, ensuring your plants are protected, and planning for the spring.

Keep your green fingers busy by completing some of the following activities in the lead up to and during winter.

Prepare the greenhouse

Clear out the greenhouse and sweep up any debris, then disinfect paths and stages to help prevent pests and fungal infections.

Clean your pots and seed trays in preparation for sowing and planting in spring, and dispose of any broken pots.

Remove any shade film or paint from your greenhouse windows and scrub them clean, inside and out, to make sure they are as clean as possible. Be sure to disinfect the inside of the glass.

This will help to ensure that anything you are trying to grow or protect from the harsh conditions will get more sunlight and warmth.

This is also a good opportunity to clean out your greenhouse gutters and check for and replace any damaged window panes.

Tidy the lawn

Use a spring-tined rake to clear thatch and moss from your lawn and add it to your compost heap. You may want to use a moss killer first if there is a lot of moss. Then, to prepare your lawn for the colder months, brush in a sandy top dressing and apply lawn feed.

Make deep holes 10cm apart using a garden fork around paths and play areas to improve drainage and aeration.

Once you have tidied up your lawn and prepared it for spring, avoid walking on it to prevent damaging the grass. If you need to walk on it, place a plank down and walk along that to spread your weight and reduce the chances of causing any damage.

Make leaf mould

Recycle fallen leaves into leaf mould which can add structure and organic matter to your soil.

Using wire mesh and wooden stakes, make a large bin in a sheltered spot to fill with fallen leaves. Shred the leaves first to speed up the process. Sprinkle them with water then leave until they are a crumbly texture.

It can take around two years to reach this stage. Once the leaves are crumbly, spread as a mulch throughout your borders.

Spruce up borders

Tend to your borders and prepare them for spring by digging up dying annuals and filling your beds with hardy annuals.

Although many crops will not make it through the harsh conditions of winter, there are some that will survive or even thrive in cold weather.

Add a splash of colour to your garden in winter by planting pansies, violas, cyclamen, winter jasmine, and daffodils.

For professional advice on selecting the best bulbs for your garden, please contact our knowledgeable team at Boston Bulbs by calling 01775 769333, or email us at sales@bostonbulbswholesale.co.uk.

The Boston Bulb Company has over 40 years of experience in supplying only the finest quality horticultural products from farmers and growers throughout the UK and Europe.