10 Ways to Help Plants and Wildlife Thrive This Winter

As the days get shorter and temperatures begin to drop, a little preparation now can help your garden weather the winter, support local wildlife and burst back to life in spring.

Autumn is a wonderful time to get outdoors and prepare your garden for the colder months. But getting ready for winter doesn't mean clearing everything away and making every corner neat and tidy. In fact, leaving a little more for nature can make a real difference to the wildlife that shares our outdoor spaces.

Whether you have a large garden, a small patio or a few pots on a balcony, there are plenty of things you can do to protect your plants, support local wildlife and lay the foundations for a greener spring.

1. Leave a little wildness for wildlife

It can be tempting to cut everything back and clear away fallen leaves, but many garden creatures rely on these natural hiding places to survive the winter.

• Leave fallen leaves: Rake them into borders or tuck them beneath hedges, where they can provide shelter for insects and other small creatures while gradually enriching the soil.

• Keep some stems standing: Leave healthy perennial plants and seedheads in place until early spring. They can provide food for birds and shelter for overwintering insects.

• Create a log pile: A quiet corner with logs, twigs and dead wood can become a valuable habitat for beetles, woodlice and other small creatures.

You don't need to leave your whole garden untouched. Even one undisturbed corner can make a difference.

2. Protect plants from frost

Cold weather can be tough on plants, particularly those that aren't suited to freezing temperatures. A few simple precautions can help them survive until spring.

• Move vulnerable pots: Bring tender plants into a sheltered, frost-free spot, such as a greenhouse or conservatory, where possible.

• Wrap containers: Insulate pots with hessian or another suitable material to help protect roots from freezing temperatures.

• Raise pots off the ground: Use pot feet or bricks to improve drainage and reduce the risk of containers becoming waterlogged.

• Check plant labels: Some plants need more protection than others, so check their individual requirements before temperatures fall.

Avoid overwatering plants during cold weather, but don't let containers dry out completely. Good drainage is particularly important through the wetter months.

3. Give your soil some love

Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden. Autumn is a good time to replenish it naturally and protect it from winter weather.

• Spread a layer of homemade garden compost or well-rotted organic matter over your beds. This helps improve soil structure, adds nutrients and protects the soil surface from heavy rain.

• Rather than digging over every bed, consider leaving the soil undisturbed where possible. This helps protect the organisms living beneath the surface and supports a healthier garden ecosystem.

• If you have a vegetable patch, remove diseased plant material, but leave healthy roots to break down naturally where appropriate. You can also cover bare beds with organic mulch to help protect the soil until spring.

4. Plant for a colourful spring

Winter might feel like a quiet time in the garden, but it's also an opportunity to get ready for the next growing season.

• Plant spring-flowering bulbs such as crocuses, daffodils and tulips in autumn, following the recommended planting times and depths for each variety. They'll spend the colder months developing underground before bringing colour to your garden when spring arrives.

• You can also plant suitable hardy perennials, trees and shrubs while the soil is workable and not waterlogged or frozen. Establishing roots over the cooler months can help plants get off to a good start.

• For an extra benefit, choose flowers that provide nectar and pollen for pollinators. Early-flowering plants can offer an important food source for insects emerging on milder winter days and in early spring.

5. Help birds and other wildlife through the cold

As natural food becomes harder to find, gardens can provide an important lifeline for wildlife.

Here are a few easy ways to help:

• Put out bird food: Offer suitable seeds and other foods from a reliable supplier, and keep feeding stations clean.

• Provide fresh water: Keep a shallow dish of clean water available for birds and other garden visitors. Check it regularly during freezing weather.

• Keep habitats varied: Berry-producing shrubs, evergreen plants and undisturbed corners offer food and shelter.

• Avoid pesticides: Reducing chemical use helps protect the insects that birds and other wildlife depend on for food.

If you have a birdbath or water dishcheck that the water hasn't frozen over and clean containers regularly to help prevent the spread of disease.

Small actions, repeated throughout winter, can make your outdoor space a more welcoming place for wildlife.

6. Make the most of fallen leaves and garden waste

Before bagging up every last leaf or sending all your garden waste away, think about what could be reused.

• Healthy fallen leaves can be left in borders, used as a natural mulch or collected to make leaf mould, a valuable soil improver that can be used in future growing seasons.

• Garden clippings and suitable plant material can also be composted at home. Just avoid adding diseased plants or anything unsuitable for your composting system.

By reusing what your garden produces, you can reduce waste, improve your soil and spend less on gardening products.

7. Give your garden a gentle tidy-up

A wildlife-friendly garden doesn't have to be untidy. The key is to focus on what really needs attention and leave the rest where it can benefit nature.

• Clear blocked drains and paths, check fences and supports, and remove damaged or diseased plant material where necessary. Clean and store tools ready for spring, and check that water butts and containers are secure.

• Resist the urge to cut back everything at once. Many plants look dormant in winter but are quietly preparing for new growth. If you're unsure whether a plant should be pruned, check its specific requirements first.

  
  

• Some shrubs flower on growth from the previous year, so pruning at the wrong time could mean missing out on next spring's blooms.

8. Plan ahead for a greener growing season

Winter is a good time to think about what you'd like to grow next year.

• You could plan a pollinator-friendly flower bed, grow more herbs and vegetables, add a container of spring bulbs or introduce plants that provide food and shelter throughout the year.

• If you have space, consider collecting and saving seeds from suitable plants. Sharing seeds with neighbours and other gardeners is a wonderful way to grow more plants, reduce waste and encourage people to try something new.

• And remember, you don't need a big garden to make a difference. Window boxes, balconies, pots and shared green spaces can all contribute to a greener, more wildlife-friendly Merton.

Want to do more than prepare your own garden for winter?

Getting involved in your local community is a great way to learn new skills, meet like-minded people and help create greener spaces for everyone.

9. Join our Growing Fridays at Mitcham Community Orchard & Gardens

Come along to our relaxed, sociable growing mornings and get involved in gardening, growing and outdoor DIY projects at this welcoming community green space. Whether you're an experienced gardener or a complete beginner, everyone is welcome.

Find out more and book your place HERE.

10. Help prepare seeds for Merton Garden Streets

Fancy helping bring more colour and greenery to local streets? Join Merton Garden Streets' Community Seed Packing morning and help prepare seeds for community growing. It's a practical way to support local planting efforts and help more people get involved in greening their neighbourhoods.

Find out more and register HERE.

Whether you're leaving a few leaves for wildlife, collecting seeds or lending a hand at a community garden, every small action helps this autumn and beyond.