Lori Cormack: Now is the time for action to protect your plants and shrubs from the harsh conditions

As the weather gets colder and the nights draw in, there are plenty of green-fingered tasks to keep gardeners busy, from planning and construction to helping protect the garden from the inevitable harsh conditions.

Seasoned gardeners will know that the past two winters have wreaked havoc with plants and flowers. Ice and snow is bad news for gardens, as roots freeze and lack of sunlight causes them to die. But there are certain precautions you can take to ensure all summer’s hard work won’t be undone overnight.

Fiona Playfair, partner at Garden Solutions, says there are plenty of things that people can start doing now to make sure they are prepared for the weather ahead. “Pruning and general tidying up of your garden will help to stop disease spreading from surrounding dead foliage,” says Fiona.

And her top tip to keep your garden in shape all season long? “Mulching,” she says. “After two bad winters, the best thing that people can do is to mulch all around their plants and shrubs to help protect the root. This is something they can start right now.”

Fiona points out that a two-inch layer of special winter mulch over the beds can help strengthen the root structure of plants and shrubs. It will also keep the soil temperature higher during winter, leading to increased microbial activity, less damage to sensitive roots and a higher survival rate of worm eggs, which will have a beneficial knock-on effect come spring.

And for those still keen to add to their garden, there are some plants that can brave the cold and survive the season. Apart from the obvious evergreen varieties which will add some colour to your outdoor haven all year long, wallflowers are surprisingly hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as -10C. Another winter favourite, and great for planting now, are autumn pansies, which will brighten up the garden right through until spring.

Cutting the grass is a task usually reserved for summer, but to make sure there is some of the green stuff left to cut when the snow has thawed, Fiona suggests investing in a good quality autumn/winter fertiliser. “Top dressing your lawn will help to encourage good root systems, without encouraging growth. No-one wants to be cutting the grass in winter,” she says.

n For more detail visit www.garden solutions.info or call 01875-871 133.