How to Prepare Your Garden For Winter? What to Do Before the Frost

How to Prepare Your Garden For Winter? What to Do Before the Frost

How to Prepare Your Garden For Winter With Colour Supplies

As summer winds down and the evenings start to cool, it’s the perfect time to get your garden ready for the months ahead. Autumn is more than just falling leaves and pumpkin decor — it’s a crucial season for protecting your outdoor space and setting yourself up for a thriving spring garden.

In this How to Prepare Your Garden For Winter guide, we’ll walk you through simple yet essential tasks to help you tidy up, preserve, and future-proof your garden before the first frost sets in.

Why Autumn Garden Prep Matters

Autumn might seem like the end of the gardening year, but it’s really a transitional phase — and a golden opportunity to get ahead. Prepping your garden now:

• Protects plants and furniture from damage caused by cold, wind, and moisture
• Prepares your soil for planting early next year
• Reduces pests and diseases that can overwinter in untidy areas
• Keeps your garden looking neat and loved through the colder months

A little work now saves a lot of hassle later. Even just a couple of hours in the garden this weekend can make all the difference when spring rolls around.

1. Clear Fallen Leaves and Debris

Fallen leaves may look pretty, — but leaving them untouched can smother your lawn, block gutters, and encourage fungal growth in flower beds. Rake leaves regularly, especially from lawns and patios, and add them to your compost bin or store them in a black sack to make leaf mould, which breaks down into excellent soil conditioner.

If you’re short on time, try running a mulching mower over the leaves on your grass — it chops them up finely and returns nutrients to the soil naturally.

2. Cut Back and Prune Selectively

Many summer plants will now be dying back, making this the perfect time to tidy up. Cut back perennials like geraniums, hostas, and peonies to prevent rot and improve airflow. Lightly prune roses and other shrubs by removing dead or crossing branches — but avoid hard pruning until late winter for most plants.

Be sure to leave some seed heads standing on plants like echinacea and teasels. Not only do they add visual interest, but they also feed the birds through the colder months.

3. Tidy the Vegetable Patch and Prepare the Soil

If you’ve been growing vegetables, now’s the time to harvest what’s left, clear out spent plants, and enrich the soil. Remove any weeds or dead growth to prevent disease from overwintering, and dig in a layer of compost or well-rotted manure.

It’s also the perfect time to plant overwintering crops like garlic, onions, and broad beans. They’ll get a strong head start and be ready to flourish in early spring.

4. Protect Tender Plants from the Cold

Some of your favourite plants might not be frost-hardy — so take steps to protect them before the first freeze. Move tender container plants like dahlias, geraniums, and fuchsias indoors or into a greenhouse. 

For others, apply a thick mulch around the base or wrap pots in fleece or bubble wrap to keep roots insulated.

If your containers are staying outside, raise them on pot feet or bricks to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging, which can be just as damaging as frost.

5. Clean and Store Tools, Furniture & Equipment

Garden tools and furniture can take a beating over winter, so don’t leave them to the elements. Clean and dry all your tools before storing them to prevent rust. Apply a little oil to metal parts and wooden handles to preserve their lifespan.

Wipe down garden furniture and either cover it with breathable covers or store it somewhere dry. Drain and disconnect hoses and water butts, and check sheds for leaks or pests so your equipment stays safe until spring.

6. Make Your Garden Wildlife-Friendly

Autumn is also a great time to support the local wildlife that shares your garden. As natural food sources dwindle, putting out bird seed, suet, and fat balls can make a big difference. Keep bird baths clean and topped up, and consider leaving a small wild corner of your garden untouched — log piles, leaf mounds, and long grass are ideal habitats for hedgehogs and insects.

You could also install bird boxes or bug hotels now so that they’re ready when creatures come looking for shelter in colder months.