Redesigning your garden over winter

Winter is the perfect time to rethink the layout of your garden while the plants are scaled back and the ground is clear. With few pressing gardening jobs to get done, take the opportunity to plan out how you’d like your garden to look for the coming year.

Here are a few tips to bear in mind when taking on your winter garden overhaul.

Watch out for the wildlife

Be careful when shifting things around in your garden over winter. Most wildlife will be unaffected at this time of year, but watch out for hibernating animals. Check compost heaps, piles of leaves, logs and long grass in particular.

Keep warm

If you’re working outside for extended periods, it’s essential to look after yourself in the cold. Take regular breaks indoors, have a nice hot cup of tea, and wrap up well – even consider some heated clothing.

Protect the plants

Many plants are easier to rehome while they’ve died back and aren’t in full bloom. In fact there’s less chance of harming them and affecting their growth. Just be sure to treat them gently during transit.

Designing garden in winter

Clear the ground

During winter you’ll see your garden stripped back. This is perfect for taking stock of the space and layout you have, making planning out your new design a whole lot clearer. Just be sure to allow room for your flower beds to bloom once summer comes around.

Make the most of the sun

With daylight hours so short in winter, you have to be fast to catch the rays. But it’s worth it to see where the light falls and which places will be best for patios and planting spots come the warmer weather.

Avoid any upheaval

The best aspect of redesigning your garden over the colder months is being able to make large-scale changes with minimal impact on its use, rather than disturbing it while everyone wants to spend time outside over summer.

So enjoy the blank canvas that winter brings to your back garden, and let your imagination run free!

George at PrimroseGeorge works in the Primrose marketing team. As a lover of all things filmic, he also gets involved with our TV ads and web videos.

George’s idea of the perfect time in the garden is a long afternoon sitting in the shade with a good book. A cool breeze, peace and quiet… But of course, he’s usually disturbed by his energetic wire fox terrier, Poppy!

He writes about his misadventures in repotting plants and new discoveries about cat repellers.

See all of George’s posts.