Christmas Gardening – winter preparation and maintenance

Making new year’s resolutions is something we tend to do with our feet up in the warm, but adding some garden resolutions to your list will certainly earn you dividends in the year ahead. Here are a few to think about.

Basic maintenance of garden tools – it always pays to service your tools before they are stored for the winter. Clean and oil bare metal areas, then clean and apply linseed oil to wooden handles. Clean the lawnmower, strimmer, shredder and hedge trimmers and, if necessary, have them serviced. Two-stroke mix will deteriorate if it is stored for a few weeks and may even lock up an engine - so drain it and use fresh fuel in the spring. That means you won’t be cursing as you try to start your two-stroke engine next year!

One of the main causes of blocked gutters are leaves that fall in the autumn. If you have a problem every year with fallen leaves, why not resolve to fit leaf guards to gutters, down pipes and gullies? Equally, if you have a pond, why not make a net to go over the top to collect the leaves before they get into the water?

One final resolution is to use the next bright winter day is to clean the patio or decking - during the winter months they can become slippery, especially if algal growth has continued beneath a layer of snow which has acted as an insulator. If possible use a pressure washer or hose to remove all deposits on the patio or decking area. Once this has been done, use a cleaning fluid to remove any coating that is left, but don’t pressure wash new paving slabs - allow them a year to cure first as this means they develop a better seal for many years to come.

Christmas gardening gutter photograph by FreeWine, used under a creative commons attribution licencee