The best time for landscapers to start working on your garden to ensure that it looks its best during the harsh winter conditions is during the mildest part of autumn. Once the first frosts hit, time is of the essence.
There is plenty to do to avoid winter damage, but given that every season is different and each garden has its own challenges and considerations, exactly when that work needs to begin can differ a lot.
However, if you plan on bringing in professional landscapers to help with your garden, making the call as soon as possible ensures that the preparation work is planned and completed in time to keep your garden looking its best this winter.
Is There A Set Date To Prepare Your Garden For Winter?
Much like how spring gardening can vary by up to a month depending on how mild winter is and how quickly the first flush of spring appears, preparing your garden for winter depends a lot on how much autumnal warmth you get.
Some years it is important to start as early as possible as cold snaps can sometimes emerge without warning, whilst other years can see warm weather stretching as late as mid-late October before the true end of the gardening season.
The rule of thumb the Royal Horticultural Society uses is that you should start protecting plants at the first sign of frost.
What Tasks Should You Start With?
The gardening tasks which should be prioritised, whether you or your landscapers are working on your garden, are ones that need to be completed before the ground freezes.
In particular:
- Clear away falling leaves and dead plants.
- Use mulch or fleece to protect your tender plants (or bring them inside).
- Drain outdoor water features.
- Prune shrubs which flower in the summer.
- Maintain your lawn.
- Take down or secure your garden structures.
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs.
