As the cold weather creeps in, it becomes more and more important to start preparing your garden for the onset of winter.

From frosty mornings to layers of heavy snow, harsh winter weather conditions can have devastating effects on gardens without the proper preparation and care. 

Today, we’ll be sharing with you our tips on how to prepare your garden for winter, as well as providing inspiration for a low maintenance garden all year round.

Prevent slips and falls

In winter, frosty, wet and icy conditions can often lead to accidental slips and falls.  

To prevent these as much as possible, we recommend switching from timber paths and decking to recycled plastic decking and lumber from Kedel. 

With better slip resistance than everyday timber, Kedel plastic decking and plastic lumber are impervious to frost and algae thanks to its non-porous properties. 

Not only this but swapping timber with recycled plastic materials will benefit you and your garden all year round, as it requires 0 maintenance and is also impervious to water, fungi and insects that might cause damage to standard timber products throughout the year.

Plant evergreens & cover others

Planting evergreen plants that stay bright and green throughout the winter is a good way to keep your garden’s ecosystem going, as well as help make your garden look more attractive and alive. 

From evergreen border plants such as lavender to evergreen climbing plants such as ivy, there’s a wide range of evergreen plants that are suitable for growing and looking after in the harsh winter months. 

You could also opt for perennial plants that thrive in colder climates and keep your garden looking bright and cheerful. Popular winter perennial plants include pansies, daphnes and snowdrops. 

If you have any potted plants or vegetables that won’t make it through harsh weather conditions, take them inside if possible or into a sheltered greenhouse.

Clean up and maintain borders

Cleaning up your garden and maintaining garden borders and edging before it gets too cold is vital in keeping your garden tidy throughout the winter. 

Here are some areas we think you should cover when cleaning your garden: 

• Lawn - rake your lawn to rid of any moss. This will allow it to breathe more freely during the winter months which will benefit your garden greatly if there is any winter snowfall

• Garden edging - clip lawn edges to ensure borders are maintained, and remove any dead foliage and weeds

• Summer perennial plants - remove annual plants that have finished for the year, and cut back summer perennials so they are away from borders and look tidy

• Leaves - as autumn continues and leaves fall from trees, if you have trees in your garden it’s likely leaves will start piling up. Try and keep on top of these as much as possible before winter, keeping as many leaves off your garden as you can

Putting in fresh borders made from recycled plastic garden edge is a good way to create separate spaces within your garden, keeping foliage and plants away from lawns, decking and patios. For garden border ideas, take a look at one of our recent blog posts.

Harvest compost

Emptying your compost bin and using built-up compost on the garden is a good way to provide plenty of nutrients to plants and grass, thoroughly preparing them for the winter ahead. 

Eco-friendly compost created from the likes of kitchen and garden waste not only helps your garden grow, but it also provides a safe and environmentally conscious outlet for waste that doesn’t damage the planet. 

Take a look at our range of compost bins today for eco-friendly containers.

Repair and replace garden structures

Timber garden structures are likely to suffer over the winter months without continued maintenance. From damage by frost and algae to cracking and splintering, wooden materials, unfortunately, don’t last forever, and a harsh British winter can cause long-lasting damage. 

Did You Know? A timber fence needs replacing every 7 years? 

Luckily, there is an alternative. Recycled plastic materials from Kedel are the ideal replacement for timber garden structures and offer many different benefits that save you time, effort and money in the long-run. 

Including everything from recycled plastic garden boxes and planters to recycled plastic fencing and furniture, we offer a vast array of strong and durable garden structures that require 0 maintenance throughout their lifetime. 

Not only are Kedel products stronger and more suitable for winter conditions than timber, but are more environmentally friendly. Made from recycled plastic, it helps reduce the amount of reusable plastic in dangerous landfill sites. Currently, only around 7% of plastic produced is recycled, plus, our products release 250% less CO2 into the atmosphere during manufacturing than virgin plastic. Through choosing to use recyclable plastic for your garden essentials, you can help to reduce your carbon footprint. 

Browse our full range of recycled plastic products today, and have a worry-free winter knowing your garden structures are safe from long-lasting damage caused by harsh winter weather.  Keep an eye on our blog for more handy pieces for your garden.