We may well have a mild winter but I wouldn’t bank on it. Whatever is in front of us weatherwise we are still in for periods of rain, the occasional gale, a bit of frost and perhaps the odd few inches of snow.
We can take precautions to limit the damage the winter weather brings.

Check all trees and recently planted shrubs. Make sure that the roots are well firmed in the ground and the plant isn’t rocking in the wind. Tree ties should be firm without being so tight as to cut into the swelling bark. Tree stakes need to be rock solid. If they have been there for some time they may be rotting at the base or the tree may be holding them upright. Remove them and fill the hole with good compost that will act as a feed for the roots.

Look over your trees checking for narrow angles branches that could break off in a storm. Ideally the fork where the branches meet should be U shaped rather than V shaped. If the weaker leader is removed when small it won’t leave a noticeable scar and the tree will retain a good shape.

Cut the grass when weather permits but avoid using the mower when the lawn is coated with frost. Dig bare areas of the vegetable garden before the soil becomes wet and sticky. Add lime to areas where brassicas are to be planted next spring. Leave the ground rough to allow the winter weather to break own the clods and wash the lime into the surface of the soil.

Prune summer fruiting raspberries removing the old canes that fruited cutting them as close to the soil as possible. Tie in the new canes to the supporting wires and any that are taller than 6 ft should be cut back to that height.

Insulate the inside of the greenhouse with bubble wrap or clear polythene sheets and check that panes of glass are firmly secured and are clean.

Pots of slightly tender plants should be moved to a sheltered side of the house away from cold, biting winds. Wrap pots in bubble wrap to prevent frost penetrating and damaging tender root systems.

 

Mulch with composted bark or wood chip those plants with shallow root systems that could be damaged by a heavy frost. Rhododendron, camellia, magnolia, hydrangea and lilac are all shallow rooting and will benefit from their own “blanket on the ground”.