Let’s hear a cheer for winter! No? Ah well. Winter is a great season to get snuggly with someone close, watch movies and eat delicious food. Did you know, however, that it’s also a great time to get outdoors and get our hands dirty? That’s right, winter is a great time to get some gardening down. Here are five tips for getting your garden perfect this winter.
Time Is Ticking…
Your garden may be full of life, colour and freshness, but it may also be full of pests that can damage the future of your garden. Aaron Wagner from TickSafe Australia has the perfect solution for getting in early on those pesky pests. “Winter is traditionally the time where paralysis ticks are in their larval and nymph early stages of life. Ticks are likely to inhabit the moist and shadier parts of the garden as they need moisture to survive. Before heading into the garden, it’s important to take precautions to avoid tick bites. Always dress with long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks. Apply insect repellant containing DEET or Picaridin to all areas of exposed skin, making sure to apply it like sunscreen by rubbing it onto all areas without missing anywhere Cutting back overhanging foliage next to pathways and thoroughfares is also a great way to reduce the incidence of tick bites. Check yourself for ticks after your time in the garden and place your gardening clothes in the clothes dryer for 20 minutes to kill any ticks on your clothing. If you do get bitten by a tick DON'T try to remove it with tweezers.” Find out more about TickSafe Australia by following them on Facebook.
The Grass Is Greener
Winter is known for being grey, dreary and a bit cheerless. Inject some colour into your life by planting beautiful coloured flowers in your garden. During this time of the year, trees lose their leaves and grass gets soggy. An easy way to combat this issue is by laying down artificial grass. Faux lawns are a foolproof way to have a green backyard year-round, without the hassle of mowing it every second week. It’s also a great way to bring in some much-needed colour to a grey backyard. If your backyard is laid with bricks, it can be a tough environment for kids and pets. Artificial grass lasts a long time, and with the improvement in technology, it’s looking more and more like real grass. Win!
Frosty The Snowman
With winter comes the cold, and with the cold comes frost. The further south you go in Australia, the more frost there is. For those lucky ducks who get to avoid the shivering cold, like Chelsea Allan from Trevallan, there are some ways you can keep your garden looking as fresh as a daisy. “I don't get frost at my house so I usually just make sure I liquid feed my plants with Silica and Potash at least once a month. Silica is very important to the general health of plants. Plants deprived of Silica are structurally weaker and more prone to pest and disease attack and the cold. Liquid Silica helps strengthen plants cell walls. It can also assist in the uptake of nitrogen, potassium, and trace elements. If you do get a frost Envy may be the product for you. Envy is a frost protectant. It can increase frost tolerance by an additional 4 Degrees.” Find out more about Chelsea and Trevallan by following them on Facebook and Instagram. Although Australia isn't the coldest of countries, Jett Hovell from Fantastic Gardeners Melbourne has the perfect advice for gardens in the chilly winter. "Think about planting cold resistant produce as soon as temperatures start to rise, also bring out indoor germinated plants to harden them." Find out more about Jett by following him on Facebook.
We’re Up All Night To Get Tidy
Keeping your garden organised is a hassle, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re not planning on spending every weekend in your garden over winter, you should make sure the garden looks somewhat presentable. Keep your tools in a shed, so that they don’t get icy and cold in the frosty air. This can also stop you from tripping over yourself when it gets dark at 5 pm.
Not All Plants Are Born Equal
There are some plants that thrive in hot weather, there are some that don’t. The same goes for winter, there are plants that you should be growing during the colder months, and Westlake Nursery has the perfect solution for those who don’t know which plants to grow during winter. “The best types of trees to plant in winter would be fruit and ornamental trees. In winter these trees go dormant, which makes them ideal for planting. You can find them bare rooted, which means that their roots come without soil, and they are much cheaper to buy and plant.” Find out more about Westlake Nursery by following them on Facebook and Instagram.
Winter is a beautiful season, and it’s the perfect time to start growing your garden for spring. A spring garden begins in the winter, and these tips will hopefully give you the most luscious and desirable garden in the street!
