We often talk about “pet days” during summer and autumn, those rare, perfect days when the light lingers, the air is warm, and the garden feels like the best place in the world.
But winter has its pet days too.
Over recent weeks, several mornings have been cold, still, and fog-laden and then, almost without warning, the sun breaks through. When it does, the transformation can be breath-taking. A quiet, misty landscape suddenly illuminated, cleansed, and sharpened by low winter light.
Those are the days when winter gardening makes sense.
Making the Most of Fine Winter Days
Wrap up well at first, you’ll soon warm up once you start moving. These are ideal days to tackle winter jobs at an unhurried pace.
Most autumn bulbs should be in by now, but there is still time for tulips and alliums, and before long it will be time to plant summer-flowering bulbs such as:
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Lilies
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Paeony roots
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Gladiolus
Winter gardening is about readiness rather than urgency.
Tidying, But Not Over-Tidying
Use fine days to gently tidy the garden:
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Remove dead herbaceous growth that has collapsed
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Compost this material to create valuable organic matter for next year
That said, not everything needs cutting back. Many perennials still hold seed heads that provide food for birds. Leaving selected plants standing adds winter structure and wildlife value.
Dividing Established Perennials
Winter is a good time to lift and divide many established herbaceous plants, including:
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Hostas
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Salvias
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Delphiniums
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Heleniums
These can be replanted around the garden now.
Hold off on:
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Ornamental grasses
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Evergreen perennials
These are best left until late winter or early spring, just as new growth begins.
If you're wondering or stuck on how ot do this or which plants this is suitable for, you can always Ask Peter Here
Making Paths and Decking Safe
Slippery surfaces are one winter hazard worth addressing.
Clear fallen debris from paving and decking and apply an organic algicide or cleaner to reduce the risk of slips. Once clean, use a product to help slow the return of algae and moss.
A little prevention now avoids bigger problems later.
Propagating Plants with Hardwood Cuttings
Winter is an excellent time to take hardwood cuttings, a method used commercially for many deciduous and fruit trees.
How to do it:
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Take around 20 cm of current year’s growth
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Choose pencil-thick stems
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Cut just below a node at the base
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Make the top cut just above a node
Mark the top if needed winter twigs can be deceptive. Insert cuttings into pots of soil or compost and leave them indoors or outside. Rooting takes time, so patience is essential.
A New Appreciation for Mahonia
Mahonia has never been a universal favourite often plagued by fungal leaf spot but this winter has been different.
I’ve noticed several looking superb, particularly Mahonia ‘Charity’, with clean foliage and abundant flowers. In winter, it comes into its own:
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Evergreen structure
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Strong yellow flowers
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Valuable nectar for bees
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Berries and shelter for birds
On a bright winter day, Mahonia earns a second look.
Winter Gardening Is About Observation
Winter sunshine changes how we see the garden. It slows us down, sharpens our attention, and reminds us that beauty doesn’t disappear it simply changes form.
It’s often on these quiet, clear winter pet days that the garden speaks loudest.