Four tasks every keen gardener should do over winter

Garden enthusiasts are being urged to ensure a handful of tasks are carried out now that winter is here.

While many think that there isn’t as much to do in the garden during the winter months, in reality there are lots of jobs that can be done, the Mirror UK reports.

The National Trust shared a few bits around your garden that you should be thinking about over the next few months.

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These range from caring for garden birds and insects to looking ahead to when next spring finally brings in the warmer days. Other tips include pruning certain plants before they start to re-leaf - a job that TV gardener David Domoney once said may sound 'daunting' but is not as difficult as it sounds.

"The main thing to remember is to be bold when cutting down the stems. Because this will send signals to the plant to send out lots of new growth in the spring. It's called rejuvenating pruning," he noted on his blog.

Here are the four tasks The National Trust recommend for your garden during the winter months:

Pruning roses

Most types of roses should be pruned in January or February, before the leaves start to emerge. Modern roses can be cut back hard while the older types should be pruned more gently. Always remove any dead, damaged or diseased stems.

Planting and pruning fruit trees and bushes

Bare root trees and bushes can be bought and planted between November and March. Just make sure you don't plant when the soil is frozen and they should establish well. Prune apple and pear trees, gooseberries and currant bushes too.

Leave your perennials alone

Don’t be tempted to be too tidy. Leaving the dry leaves and stems on your herbaceous perennials will provide a place for many insects to overwinter. Dry seed heads can also be good for birds and small mammals, plus they glow in the winter sun.

Turn your compost

Grab the garden fork and turn your compost as this makes sure it breaks down well and is ready to use when you need it. If you have space for a new bin or pile, you can turn your compost into it and leave it to breakdown while you refill the empty one - but remember to check heaps for overwintering hedgehogs and other creatures first.

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