GREEN FINGERS
Five jobs to winter-proof your garden now – including must-have gadget that will save you hundreds of pounds next summer
Keep pests away all winter long so they don't damage your plants
With cold winter nights approaching, most gardening jobs will be put away until next spring.
Here are five jobs to do now and through winter to ensure your outside space looks its best next year, and why you need to install a water butt - if you haven't got one already.
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Not only will it make sure your garden thrived they're also super budget-friendly too.
1. Get a water butt
With the mains water supply to homes now being metered and rainy season approaching, it's the best time to get a water butt for the garden.
What are the benefits of having a water butt?
- Reduces surface water flood risk
- Provides a fresh supply of rainwater - ideal for topping up ponds and washing the car
- Rainwater has more nutrients so your plants and gardens will love it
- Reduces your clean water consumption during periods of peak summer demand, lowering your bills.
- Easy to install - you can start saving straight away
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Did you know? One water butt can hold up to 200 litres of water, which is the same as 20 full washing up bowls.
And you can save around 5,000 litres of water a year by collecting rainwater in a water butt, according to Yorkshire Water.
Otherwise, per hour when using a hose pipe to water your garden next summer. Do that twice a day and you'll be spending hundreds of pounds keep your flowers looking their best.
Climate change is creating more frequent, severe weather conditions – hotter, dryer summers and warmer, wetter winters with 20-50% more rain.
Living With Water
You can bag one from B&Q for as little as £26 and your plants will thank you for it.
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Rainwater is also better for your plants compared to tap water.
Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh said on the Gardeners' World podcast: “The funny thing is, there’s something about rain.
"It’s got some sort of magic ingredient and plants always seem to grow more rapidly from rainwater, from water that comes out of the hosepipe.”
2. Collect seeds
Instead of buying brand new seeds of the same plant you've grown this summer, many will provide free seeds from the flower heads.
Our Consumer Reporter Laura McGuire points out that a pack of seeds can cost you £5, or “you can collect them from your summer plants and also take cuttings to propagate new plants".
You should store your seeds in a cool, dry place until the right season arrives to plant them.
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3. Dig up summer plants
There are some plants that need to be dug up or they won't survive winter.
Dahlias are a perennial that will die in winter if left in the ground, so you need to dig up the tubers (name given to their roots) and store them in a cool dark room.
4. Pests be gone!
While many garden pests go away during the winter slugs and snails thrive in damp conditions so you'll want to take measures to stop them eating your plants.
Garden expert Robert Pavlis shared a clever slug trap baited with dough, which he says is even more effective than beer.
You could also try making garlic spray – simply skin and blend a whole clove of garlic with about one-and-a-half pints of water and then use a spray bottle for liberally cover your plants.
Snails and slugs hate the smell of garlic so it should keep them away.
5. Compost
Last but not least, when you’re tidying up your garden at the end of summer don’t forget to compost everything - including any vegetable peelings and other organic waste.
Ideally, your compost should have a ratio of about two parts brown woody material or cardboard to one part green leaves.
You can buy a compost bin for as little as £20, or build your own with a few old pallets or spare planks.
There’s no need for advanced woodworking skills – as the compost needs plenty of air gaps to work properly.
Remember, there are some plants you can't compost.
Invasive species - such as Japanese Knotweed and Buddleia. These plants can survive composting and re-enter the environment, which could cause ecological imbalances.
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Diseased plants - For example, if your tomatoes unfortunately suffered blight, composting them can spread the disease further into your garden when you redistribute the compost.
Toxic plants - Such as Poison Ivy and Poison Oak, These plants can be hazardous to handle and process.
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