Seasonal hub · December – February
Winter garden jobs in the UK.
Winter is the quiet season, but it is also the cheapest time to make next summer easier. Pruning, planning and preparation now cost nothing but a few cold afternoons.
The main jobs this season
1. Prune while plants are dormant
Apple and pear trees, wisteria, bush roses and most deciduous shrubs are pruned between December and February when the structure is visible. Leave spring-flowering shrubs and plums alone until after they flower.
2. Protect against frost and wind
Wrap tree ferns and tender shrubs in fleece, raise pots onto feet so they drain, and move anything borderline against a house wall. Wet, frozen compost kills more container plants than cold air.
3. Keep irrigation safely shut down
Outdoor taps stay off and lagged, timers and filters stay indoors, and dripline stays drained. Coil and store any line you have lifted out of beds so it is ready to reinstall in April.
4. Improve the soil
Spread compost or manure over empty beds and let the winter weather work it in. Avoid walking on wet soil or waterlogged lawns — compaction is the main cause of summer drainage problems.
5. Clean and sharpen tools
Wash, dry, sharpen and oil secateurs, spades and mower blades. Clean pots and seed trays with hot soapy water to break disease cycles before spring sowing.
6. Plan next year's garden
Order seed in January, sketch bed layouts, rotate vegetable groups, and decide where irrigation needs to reach. A watering plan made in February is a summer of saved evenings.
What to plant in winter
- Bare-root trees, hedging, roses and fruit bushes (soil not frozen)
- Garlic in December if not already in
- Chitting potatoes in February, ready for March planting
- Sweet peas, broad beans and onions under cover in February
- Winter bedding: pansies, violas, primulas for colour
Watering in winter
Outdoor beds and lawns need no watering between December and February. The risk in a UK winter is too much water, not too little.
The exceptions are plants under cover and evergreens in pots against a wall, which can dry out unnoticed on windy, frost-free days. Water those sparingly, in the morning, only when the compost is dry below the surface.
Winter checklist
- Prune dormant trees, roses and wisteria
- Keep taps off, timers and dripline drained and stored
- Mulch or manure empty beds
- Clean, sharpen and oil tools
- Order seed and plan next year's watering
Water less, grow more
A zoned dripline system waters borders, beds and containers at the root zone on a timer, so the garden keeps going whether you are at home or away.
Other seasons