Winter Plant Health

Winter is when your plants and garden take a bit of a rest and regroup; they have different requirements, so remember to adjust your care regime accordingly.

Indoor plants need far less water as the temperature drops and it’s best not to leave them sitting in a saucer of water during the winter months. Keep them away from the direct heat from heaters and fires and only water them when the soil is dry to the touch and allow them to drain completely. Mist them occasionally to maintain humidity and consider a liquid plant food so they thrive as spring arrives.

Outdoors in the vegetable garden, plants from the brassica family grow well through the winter, so make sure you have a good crop of cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale and cauliflower on the go.

If you live in frosty areas, protect vulnerable plants with mesh or a light covering. If your plants do become a little damaged, resist the urge to trim the affected areas – this can leave the plants more vulnerable to further damage. Wait to trim until the frost season passes.

Hold off pruning your roses until July (or August if you live in really cold areas). Although roses respond very well to being pruned, they are equally vulnerable to frost once they are pruned as other plants.

When mowing your lawn, check that it is not too wet to avoid damage and set the mower a little higher.