You can never truly rely on consistent sunshine in Britain, certainly not between the months of October to May any least but as my Mum always says, ‘It’s how you dress, not the weather, that matters’ and I certainly want to take heed of her advice, wrap up well and continue to enjoy my garden and the orchard within it, even when the skies above me are grey.
We’re lucky in that our house is south facing so any sunlight we do get beams generously into our home but there are many things I do to keep the garden, patio and lawn looking its best all year round (our garden surrounds our house enveloping it all the way round so requires a hands-on approach) so I thought I’d share five of my top tips below.
- Install Sliding Doors From Your Kitchen/ Lounge Into Your Garden
Sliding doors make it quick, easy and smooth to bring the outside in, allowing fresh air to circulate throughout your home (so important during the winter months when bugs are rife) as well as getting you outside to feel closer to nature which has healing effects for both the body and mind. I recommend glass sliding doors at Tuinmaximaal. My children and I like to collect pretty leaves in the autumn (my youngest enjoys creating collages with red and yellow leaves) and conker hunts followed by fights are always a joy whatever a child’s age. We like to marinate our conkers in vinegar to toughen them up!
- Evergreens and winter flowering plants will keep your garden pretty.
Box, holly and yew evergreens (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreen) will keep your space green and serene and winter-blooming plants and flowers such as roses, witch hazel, winter jasmine and hellebores will keep things colourful even if the weather turns frosty. Shrubs with winter berries are a great addition (remind young children never to eat them of course) spanning bright red holly berries, vibrant orange cornus stems and enchanting purple crocus (which smell dreamy to boot). Others to consider include Beautyberry, Spindle, Winterberry and Hawthorn to name just a few. Visit a local garden centre for advice and to purchase plants, and do check out gardening videos online.
- Add additional Lighting
Placing lights outside means you can still enjoy your garden when day turns to night, which during the winter months happens as early as 4pm. My middle child likes to play football after school so including some energy efficient LED floodlights for his side of the garden where the goals sit have helped him hugely with visibility and keeping on top of his game (sports are not just for summer). Consider adding a basketball hoop to encourage the children to get outside and off tech, whatever the weather. Adding fairy lights to trees can also brighten up the garden and add some festive cheer. We were inspired by our recent visit to Glow.
- Encourage wildlife
We live in the countryside but close to the town centre, and marvel at the squirrels, robins, sparrows and finches we are greeted by daily, and we’ve even spotted some rabbits recently nearby. To encourage feathered and furry visitors, place bird feed in easily accessible areas around your garden. Feed on a wire mesh close to the ground will invite ground-feeding birds such as robins and dunnocks to visit your garden. Sparrows, finches and nuthatches like sunflower seeds. You can buy bird feed from reputable shops and supermarkets. Chopped bacon fat or grated cheese is a favourite of wrens. For more tips, head to RHS’ site.
- Plant a meadow from now or dig a pond
Keep the garden watered because whilst little might be growing you want the roots replenished. Now is the time to place down meadow turf, and or consider digging a pond. Again if you have small children, ensure this has railing/ guards around it for safety purposes. Ponds promote biodiversity and will encourage frogs and wild birds. We are considering a pond for when my youngest child grows up a little. My husband loves taking wildlife photos too. If those sound like too much effort, consider a water fountain or statement piece in the garden.
I hope these tips have been useful. Let me know your own in the comments.
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