For most people, Winter means putting away their gardening tools in the shed and letting nature run its course. But little do they know, doing winter and autumn care is essential to maintaining a healthy garden and lawn year round. Taking the necessary steps now will not only help protect your plants from harsh elements, but also ensure a smooth transition into the spring season when new growth begins.

Be it rain, hail or shine, our team at Jim’s Mowing NZ are experts when it comes to lawn and garden care. We’ll break down our top tips to ensure your property is ready to withstand the winter season.

Preparing your lawn & gardening for the winter

Every season comes with its own unique challenges and benefits. As winter sees the growth of your garden and lawn slow down, as well as exposes them to more intensive cold periods, you need to begin preparing in the autumn. Here is how to ensure your garden is prepared for the winter.

Get your soil ready for spring

The lead up to winter is an ideal time to nourish your soil and enhance its fertility. Consider adding beneficial soil amendments like manure, compost, or organic fertilisers to your garden and lawn. By incorporating these nutrients during autumn, they have ample time to break down, enrich the soil, and foster biological activity in time for spring. Additionally, this can help address any soil compaction issues that may have occurred due to heavy summer rains.

Aerating the lawn is an effective solution to fix soil that has grown compact due to summer rains. Our lawn aeration experts at Jim’s Mowing NZ suggest that, aerating your soil by manually creating holes using a pitchfork or through shoes with spiked soles to walk across the lawn. An alternative way is to spread gypsum over the lawn, which aids in reducing compaction.

Minimise mowing

As your lawn will grow slower over the colder seasons, it’s the perfect opportunity to let your grass grow a little taller. Allowing your lawn to grow to a longer height not only minimises the work for you, but also has multiple benefits! Keeping your grass too short may expose your soil to the harsh winter cold and frost, damaging a lot of its natural nutrients. The longer blades encourage deeper root development, making your lawn better equipped to handle dry spells. So, during the cooler months, give your mower a break and raise those cutting heights. Not only will your grass enjoy some extra sunshine for photosynthesis, but you’ll also keep those pesky weeds at bay. It’s a win-win for your lawn!

Tidy and clean up

When it comes to getting your garden ready for winter, the first order of business is some good old-fashioned tidying up. It’s time to bid farewell to the remnants of the previous seasons and make way for a fresh start. Say your goodbyes to those tired plants, spent annuals, and veggies that have done their duty. You can either send them off to the compost pile for some recycling magic or bid them a final farewell in your general waste bin.

Don’t forget to get your gutters cleaned up for the upcoming winter rains, having a clean drainage can help avoid mulch overflow, water damage to your roof, walls and foundation. Our gutter cleaning service will ensure your gutters are free of debris and functioning properly.

Not only will this tidy-up session give your garden a neat and polished look, but it’ll also ensure that pesky pests and diseases have fewer hiding spots. Also don’t forget about those fallen leaves and branches scattered about. It can be easy to leave them as is, but they are unsightly and will rot if not disposed of properly. You can use a professional rubbish removal service to dispose of any green waste after your clean-up, or even compost it yourself. Make sure to give those leaves a proper shredding. You can then use the shredded leaves to enrich your compost or create a protective layer over your garden beds. This will help keep your garden warm over the colder months.

Prune your plants

Pruning is an essential task during the Autumn season, as it helps maintain the health and shape of your plants. Leave it to the experts at Jim’s Mowing NZ to identify, remove and prune any dead or damaged branches from trees and shrubs, removing any risks to you or your garden. Pruning also encourages proper airflow and prevents the spread of diseases.

Protect any vulnerable plants

For delicate or frost-sensitive plants, consider providing protection. Wrap susceptible shrubs in burlap or frost cloth to shield them from freezing temperatures and harsh winds. Mulch around the base of trees and shrubs to insulate their roots and prevent frost heaving. Remember to remove any protective coverings in early spring to allow for new growth.

For potted tropical and subtropical plants, transitioning them indoors will provide a conducive environment for their growth. However, keep in mind to reduce the amount of water you provide to these plants as their watering needs do decrease in indoor settings.

If you reside in an area prone to heavy winter rains, it’s essential to make necessary preparations to ensure adequate drainage for your plants. This will prevent water-logging and potential damage caused by excess moisture.

For gardening during the winter season, consider adding flowering plants like violas and pansies to bring some colour to your garden. These resilient plants thrive even in cold weather, offering a delightful visual display and cheerfulness to your outdoor space.

While some perennials are tough enough to survive the winter on their own, others may benefit from extra protection. Start by cutting back the spent foliage of herbaceous perennials to a few inches above the ground. This helps prevent diseases and eliminates hiding places for pests.

For added insulation, consider adding a layer of mulch around the base of your perennials. This will help regulate soil temperature and reduce the likelihood of frost damage. Be careful not to pile mulch directly against the stems of plants, as this can create a favourable environment for rot and disease.

Take care of your tools and maintenance equipment

The colder period offers an ideal opportunity to attend to the maintenance and care of your gardening tools to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of your implements. Properly packing your lawn mower and tools is a crucial step, but before doing so, it is important to thoroughly clean and dry them. You can also sharpen the blades of your lawn mower to ensure it is ready for a clean cut come springtime.

 

Begin by washing the tools to remove any accumulated dirt and debris.If rust has developed, employ sandpaper or a wire brush to effectively eliminate it. For gardening hoses and shovels, sharpening them with a basic mill file will enhance their cutting efficiency. Pruners can be sharpened using a whetstone.

To provide an extra layer of protection, gently rub the surfaces of your tools with an oiled rag coated in light machine oil. This simple step helps create a barrier that seals the metal from oxygen, preventing rust formation and extending the lifespan of your tools for another year.

By dedicating some time to these maintenance practices during the winter months, you ensure that your gardening tools remain in optimal condition, ready to assist you when the next gardening season arrives.

Leave it to the experts!

Would you rather leave your winter lawn and garden prep to the experts? We don’t blame you! Contact Jim’s Mowing today and let our experienced professionals handle all your lawn care and gardening needs this winter season.