Why winter is 'the perfect time' to get stuck into the garden
Winter isn't the most productive season for plants, but don't let that, or the cold weather, stop you from doing some gardening.
In fact, the coldest months of the year can make a huge difference in how your garden looks come spring.
According to Luke Maitland, horticulturalist and director of nursery Native Grace, it's "the perfect time to get ahead in the garden while the weather's cooler and the pace is slower."
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Tidying up garden beds is a good task to tackle in winter. Getty
There are plenty of ways to make the most of winter so that your garden is thriving during the warmer weather.
One of the most important and easiest things to tackle is tidying up.
"Take advantage of the cooler weather to tackle weeding, mulching, and if you are in a milder climate you can also get some general pruning done. It's a great time to prepare garden beds and reduce weed problems come spring," Maitland tells 9honey Living.
Preparing garden beds involves removing old plant material and weeds. That way you'll be ahead once it comes time for putting your spring plants in.
"The cooler months make digging and heavy lifting more bearable," Maitland says.
Winter is also rose pruning season so that's definitely a task you can tackle while you wait for spring.
"A good winter cut encourages strong spring growth and better blooms."
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Now is the time to prune rose bushes. Getty
But don't think the cold weather means there isn't much around to plant, bare-root trees and shrubs should go in the ground while still dormant. This is so they can get established before they start growing next season.
Maitland also shared a hot tip for improving soil by growing "green manure crops" during winter.
"Sow green crops like legumes or mustard in your veggie patch to boost soil health and structure for next season's produce," he says.
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And for those Aussies living in areas with dry hot summers it's a good idea to get planting now.
"It gives plants time to settle in and grow strong roots before the heat hits," Maitland explains.
"Those that are in a frosty area are best to wait until spring or ask your local nursery for best planting times for your area."
Now for some tasks than can be done mostly inside where it's warmer; spend some time in winter to plan your garden for spring, summer and years to come.
This may involve seeking garden design inspiration and looking at what plants to add. You may even want to start ordering seeds and summer flowering bulbs if that's of interest.
"Think about how you want your garden to look and function. Winter is ideal for planning new garden beds, refreshing tired areas, or mapping out bigger landscaping projects," Maitland says.
Use winter to plan what you want your garden to look like in future seasons. Getty Images/iStockphoto
As fun as planning your garden is it's important to spend time reviewing what's working and what's not so you can make changes where necessary.
"Look back over the past few seasons to see which plants have thrived and which have struggled. This helps you make better choices and set your garden up for success next season," Maitland says.
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