Preparing Your Garden for Winter in Scotland

Winters in South Lanarkshire tend to be more wet and windy than deep-frozen, but the combination of rain, wind and the odd hard frost still takes its toll on a garden. A bit of work in autumn makes spring a lot easier.

Here’s a simple checklist. You don’t need to do all of it — pick the jobs that matter most for your garden.

1. Give the lawn a last cut

Grass slows down as the days get shorter and colder, but it doesn’t always stop completely. A final cut in autumn, with the mower set a little higher than usual, keeps the lawn tidy without stressing it before winter.

Try to avoid cutting when the grass is very wet or frosty, and stay off frozen lawns where you can — walking on frosted grass can damage it.

2. Keep on top of fallen leaves

A thick layer of wet leaves left on a lawn blocks light and can leave yellow patches underneath. Leaves on paths and patios also become slippery. Clearing them every so often through autumn is much easier than one big job in December.

If you have space, leaves can be piled up in a quiet corner or bagged to rot down into leaf mould.

3. Check fences before the winter winds

Winter storms find the weak spots. Walk along your fences and look for panels that rattle, posts that lean or wood that has started to rot. A small repair now can stop a whole panel coming down in the first big gale.

If something needs fixing, our fencing and garden repairs page explains how we can help.

4. Clean slippery patios and paths

Damp, shady patios and paths can build up moss and algae over the winter, which makes them slippery. Brushing them regularly helps, and a clean in autumn gives you a better starting point. See our power washing service if a surface needs more than a brush.

5. Cut back and tidy borders — but not everything

Clear away plants that have collapsed or gone mushy, and pull out weeds before they settle in for the winter. You don’t have to cut everything back, though. Seed heads and hollow stems can give shelter and food to birds and insects over winter, and many people like the look of them in frost.

6. Look after hedges

A light tidy of hedges before winter keeps them neat and stops branches rubbing against windows, fences or cables in strong winds. Always check for nesting birds before trimming — wild birds’ nests are protected by law while in use. NatureScot has more guidance.

7. Protect outdoor taps and pots

A hard frost can damage outdoor taps and pipes. Turn off and drain outside taps if you can, or fit a cover. Move delicate pots somewhere sheltered, or raise them off the ground so they don’t sit in water.

8. Clean and store tools

Clean the soil off spades, forks and shears and dry them before putting them away. Tools stored clean and dry are much nicer to pick up again in spring.

Want a hand?

If you’d rather hand some of this over, a seasonal garden tidy-up covers a lot of it in one visit. Tell us what you’d like done and we’ll send you a free, no-pressure quote.