Winter Gardening Tips – What to Do and What to Grow

Winter has well and truly arrived, especially if you live further south. While it can be a great excuse to snuggle up behind closed doors, don’t stay inside all the time—your garden needs you!

Yes, growing may have slowed, but your plants and lawns need saving from the cooler weather. There are also lots of goodies you can pop in the ground that flourish at this time of year. So, are you ready to get your winter gardening gloves on with Jack?

When you do get outside and get busy, you’ll feel much better for it. In fact, when the sun comes out on a winter’s day, it’s perfect green thumb weather.

When winter hits, our gardens can suffer in lots of ways:

• Sad soil – Winter can suck the life out of your soil, literally! The drop in temperature slows microbial activity, reducing the nutrients your plants can eat. It can also make the pH more acidic. On top of this, heavy rain can also expose the roots to the cold.
• Less light – Winter days mean less light for our outdoor areas. Not only do we see fewer sunlight hours, but because the sun sits lower in the sky, it can cast more shadows on our plants and gardens. On top of this, overcast days can block what little sunlight there is. Goodbye, growth and happiness!
• Frost bites – If you live in NSW, south or NZ, winter can mean a visit from Jack Frost when the air temps tip hits freezing. While winter’s lace can look pretty, it’s not great news for your plants. Not only can ice crystals form in plant tissues, causing cell walls to pop, but it can also stunt growth and damage roots.
• Water worries – Rain clouds can be all or nothing in the winter months. If it rains too much, your soil can become waterlogged and compact, limiting growth and drainage. If it doesn’t rain enough over the cooler months, your soil and lawn can become parched, leaving your plants and turf super thirsty.
• Pesky pests – Some garden pests and diseases can be more active when it’s cold and take advantage of weak plants. Fungi throw a party on winter’s damp dance floor, and they’re not fun guys! Black spot, powdery mildew and caterpillars can also crash the event.
• Wind whip – Harsh winter winds blowing through your garden can not only damage stems, break branches and even uproot your plant babies but can also strip plants and trees of moisture, making them dry and brittle.

With all of these natural phenomena on the loose, your plants and gardens can be left looking sad, dry and wilted. Worse case they can pop their clogs, meaning all your hard work outdoors over the warmer months has gone to waste.

But fear not, outdoor lovers, with Jack by your side, it’s easy to protect your green spaces and keep everything alive and flourishing.

Wondering what’s involved with winterising your garden? Jack’s got your back!

As the cold and frost can do plenty of damage, let’s start here. There are a few simple things you can do to help your garden:

• Add a mulch blanket to your beds – Mulch acts like a cosy blanket, insulating the soil so it doesn’t get too cold. It also stops moisture loss, so it’s a double win. Just make sure you do your soil mixing pre-cold season.
• Water before the frost arrives – Giving your garden a big drink the night before frost is forecast adds moisture to the soil. As wet soil retains more heat, this will insulate your lawn and plant roots, minimising cold damage.
• Avoid pruning those plants and bushes – Winter is the time to leave those garden shears in the shed! New growth is more susceptible to cold and frost damage, so let them keep their natural ‘do’.
• Cut your lawn a little higher – While your lawn will grow slower over winter, it will still need a mow now and again. Putting your blades up a notch or two will insulate its root and protect against frost damage.

Adding some raised beds will really up your winter gardening game!

Raised garden beds not only warm up faster than soil in the ground (and stay warmer!), but they allow you to control the soil quality better. This includes making sure it’s got good drainage and is super nutritious.

By lifting a garden bed off the ground, you’re also making it harder for winter pests to get to your plants or vegies. Plus, it makes being green-fingered more enjoyable as you don’t have to kneel on cold, wet ground.

Our Jack Raised Garden Bed is a great pick. It’s durable powder-coated finish lasts for years and looks the goods. It’s also really easy to install—watch video. If you like a more natural look, why not build a wooden raised bed using our Retain-iT range? It’s just as easy—See how-to.

We cover up when the cold weather hits, so why leave your plants exposed to winter’s elements? Wondering how can you cover them up to protect them from cold, frost, wind and rain? With some budget-friendly Jack Plant Protection!

Here’s our pick of the best Jack plant winter-proofing Plant Covers.

• Sun and winter plant cover – The bottom section has clear PVC sides that keep plants and soil warmer in colder months, keeping in moisture.
• Greenhouse plant cover – Clear PVC sides keep your plant babies and soil warmer in colder months. Its handy side vents allow easy access for your green thumbs.
• Frost and wind-protective plant cover – Keeps out frost and dew, maintains warmth in colder months and keeps out those pesky winter pests.All of our Jack Plant Covers are easy to set up and store flat for reuse. Watch our handy Quick and Easy Plant Protection video to see how to use them.

If plant protection is the coat of winter gardens, then edging is the scarves and hats!

By adding some edging to your beds or around your plants, you can help shield them from the wind, retain water in the soil, and give them a little bit of extra insulation.

Our Oxy Shield Podium Rings and Edging Panels are awesome! Not only do they do the above, but their rustic patina will add some landscaping flair. Even though it might be time for some of your plants to hibernate, your garden will still look sweet!

While your garden doesn’t need as much watering over winter, as your plants are getting some zzz’s, you still need to get the hose or watering can out every so often to give them a good sprinkle. Here are some handy tips:

• Check the forecast – If your weather app predicts rain the next day, you don’t need to worry about watering, so stand down and let nature do its thing!
• Water at the base – Watering at the base rather than over your plants to encourage deep root growth. A drip irrigation system will keep the soil moist for you.
• Don’t go too hard on the H2O – Too much watering over winter can lead to root rot, which kills off the roots. Signs of root rot include wilting, yellowing or browning of leaves and stunted growth.
• Water early on in the day – Watering in the am gives the soil and plants a chance to dry before nightfall. This will stop that ‘fun guy’ Mr Fungi from appearing!

If you love your potted plants, make sure you show it by bringing them inside when the temps drop to anything less than 10 degrees.

Leaving them out on your deck or patio, especially if you live further south or have sun-loving tropicals, will damage them in all the same ways winter hits your garden beds or worse.

Just make sure you check for pests and bugs before you bring them in! Plus, give them a quick spray with natural insecticide and pop a saucer underneath for watering.

Don’t have enough room in your home? Make sure you can protect them as much as possible by putting them in a sheltered spot like your garage or huddle many plants together to create a slightly warmer microclimate.

Now we’ve covered protecting your garden for winter, let’s talk about winter planting. Yes, if you’ve got green thumbs and love being outdoors, you’ll be pleased to know there’s still plenty of growing to be done!

So, just what can you bloom and grow at this time of year?

There are lots of veggies that do well in winter, so if you’re itching to plant some edibles, grow for it! Try these out for taste. They’re perfect for stews and winter dishes:

• Cabbage
• Kale
• Spinach
• Cauliflower
• Carrots
• Turnips
• Potatoes
• Radishes
• Spring onions

Love cooking hearty dishes garnished with delicious herbs? You’ll be happy to hear there are quite a few that grow well over winter in beds or pots:

• Thyme
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Mint
• Sage
• Dill
• Italian parsley
• Chives
• Rocket

When it comes to winter garden plants and flowers, you’ve got plenty of species to choose from that don’t mind a bit of cold, including a mix of natives and perennials:

• Banksia
• Lilly pilly
• Acacia
• Calendula
• Tea tree
• Bottlebrush
• Native violets
• Kangaroo paws

Another great idea for winter planting is to take it up high with hanging planters or vertical gardens. Not only are they space-saving and look gorgeous, but they also work with winter in a few ways.

When plants are higher, they have a better chance of catching the low winter low. They also have better air circulation, stopping damp-loving fungal diseases. On top of this, they’re great for semi-enclosed outdoor spaces, like balconies or decks, which can help keep them toastier and more protected.

As well as going up, you can also take your green thumbs to your balcony or indoors with pot plants or with our classy gold geometric Air Planters.

Another way to enjoy winter gardening is with propagation. By starting new plants inside from cuttings or seeds, you can ensure you have plenty of plants ready to go once early spring arrives! Add your plantlings to some Jack Propagation Vases to infuse style into this fun activity.

Winter isn’t a time to let your gardening efforts slack. By winterising your outdoor spaces and planting the right species, you can ensure they stay looking sharp and are primed and ready for a blooming gorgeous spring!

All you need to get started are your Jack products. So what are you waiting for? Head to your nearest local supplier to grab them today!

Has your garden been sprinkled with Jack this winter? Why not take some snaps and share them on socials, tagging @meetdiyjack? You might get some kudos or a share from us!