Garden calendar for winter - what you can do in the garden now.
Garden
Garden care
The garden is resting for a few months now, and it is a perfect opportunity to plan for the next season. This is when you lay the groundwork. Do an evaluation. What worked well last time? What should be done differently now?


Written by: Liselotte Roll
Swedish garden inspirer, journalist and author of books about nature, cultivation and animals, such as "Soil", "Grow for insects" and "Chickens as a hobby".
In our style guide - A world of gardens - you can be inspired by six different garden styles - classic, Nordic, down-to-earth, romantic, Mediterranean, and Japandi gardens. Below, we generally write about the garden in winter, before delving into specific tips for each style. Many of us don't just have one style in the garden, we mix and match from several, so there is a lot to gain for everyone with a garden.
Winter gardening activities
Winter is the perfect time to plan for the next season in the garden. Whether you have big projects underway or just want to fix some small things - garden planning is the way to the dream garden. Help the plants cope with the coldIf you have recently planted or less hardy plants, it's wise to cover them when the ground freezes, but before the snow falls. Choose frost-resistant pots and urns with drainage holes at the bottom and protect the plants from the cold in the ground with styrofoam underneath and bubble wrap around them. Winter cover can be the rescue the plants need.Remove heavy snowMake sure that trees, shrubs, and perennials do not break if the snow layer becomes heavy. Shrubs can also be tied together to form a pointed shape - this way, the snow won't easily get in between the branches. Protect plants from hungry animalsDeer, hares, and rodents can find their way into our gardens in winter. If you want to ensure that trees and shrubs are not eaten, you can use tree protectors or plastic-coated metal mesh. Brighten up in the winter darknessChristmas lights have become winter lights. Many decorate with light chains early in winter and do not take them down until spring comes. Both trees and shrubs, as well as balcony railings, facades, and entrance areas, can be lit up. Let Christmas bloomDecorate the entrance for Christmas with evergreen shrubs and seasonally appropriate flowers - plants are the finishing touch when creating a Christmas atmosphere. Help the small birdsOur small birds need help through the winter, and they greatly appreciate it if you serve them nutritious bird food. If you want to go the extra mile, you can also make bird food that spreads Christmas joy. Use the gardenWinter can also be garden time. Light a fire in a fire pit on the patio. Gather around the fire with warm blankets and sheepskins. Make mulled wine over an open fire. Grill cheese sandwiches and enjoy the fresh winter air. Start the year by sowing a seedThe growing season starts on January 1st, they say. The most eager start the year by pre-cultivating for the upcoming season. Whether you are among these or not, the first months of the year are the time to explore this year's seed assortment. Whether you are going to grow chili, peppers, artichokes, or geraniums, you should actually start already in January. Check out our seeding calendar for tips, month by month. Jumpstart springSpring will soon arrive, but already in January and February, you can get a glimpse of spring with primroses, grape hyacinths, snowdrops, and daffodils that can be found in stores. If it's still too cold for them to be outside, you can enjoy the early signs of spring indoors.
Winter in a world of gardens
Different gardens have different needs for maintenance, below we list the most important factors for the six different styles in our style guide - A world of gardens.
Classic garden in winter
In the classic garden, there is beauty in every season - winter is no exception. Welcome with a beautiful entrance. There are many nice plants that can withstand frost. By changing accessories such as lanterns and lights, you can also have an entrance that perfectly matches the season. A nice entrance that creates a Christmas atmosphere can be replaced with a more classic winter theme after the holiday.Make a door wreath. To top it off, you can make your own door wreath of evergreens, or maybe a moss wreath.Take good care of the geraniums. The geraniums that were brought in before the frost comes should be watered sparingly during the winter. When it approaches February-March, you can start to bring the geraniums back to life.
Nordic garden in winter
The Nordic garden rests during the winter, setting the mood for the season. Style your entranceway by filling frost-resistant pots with winter evergreens - this will give you a beautiful entrance throughout the winter. Decorate with a simple string of lights for a festive touch.Leave the lawn in peace for a perfect grass lawn next year, it's best to avoid walking on it as much as possible during the winter.Protect the hedge from the spring sun. If the spring sun is shining while there is still frost in the ground, the hedge can struggle as the plants simply cannot absorb the water needed to withstand the sun. If you have a newly planted hedge, cover it up with something light, such as straw or old white sheets, so that the hedge does not overheat under the protection.
Down-to-earth garden in winter
Bring the down-to-earth garden indoors for winter. The best thing about growing your own is that you can do it year-round. Give new life to Christmas plants. Most flowers we decorate with for Christmas can live longer than just during the holiday weeks. Here are some tips for keeping the most common Christmas plants fresh.Winter sow. Yes, you can sow seeds outdoors in winter! This can extend the season, free up space indoors, and give you both early harvest and hardy plants. Winter sow in plastic boxes or outdoors in planters.Grow indoors. With plant lighting, you can grow sprouts, herbs, and microgreens indoors. Some vegetables can also be grown indoors. A simple and exciting alternative is hydroponic growing - without soil.Plan for the next outdoor season. Use the winter months to plan for the season. Choose from hundreds of types of seeds, plan placement, and create a plan to make the most of your space. Create a kitchen garden if you don't already have one, and figure out how many plants can fit in a planter. Perhaps this will be the year your dream of a greenhouse comes true?Pre-cultivate indoors and outdoors. Many vegetables need more time than our relatively short outdoor season can provide, so pre-cultivating is an important task in winter. You can pre-cultivate indoors or in a greenhouse and growing tunnel. Check out our sowing calendar, where you get sowing tips month by month. We also have good tips on equipment, advice on getting difficult seeds to sprout, and tips for troubleshooting pre-cultivation problems.
Romantic garden in winter
The winter is unusually colorless in the romantic garden, but soon explodes in scent and color.,Plan the rose gardenThere can never be enough roses in a romantic garden, so plan the rose garden now in winter - whether you are creating a completely new one or just adding more varieties. Check the bulbsIf you brought in Dahlia bulbs in the fall, for example, they are probably safely stored now - cool, but frost-free. Take a look at them occasionally, and make sure they are not starting to mold or dry out. If they look very dry, you can spray them with a little water. Protect the roses from frost and spring sunProtect garden roses from frost by covering them with pine branches, especially if there is ground frost. If the spring sun comes early, you can prevent damage from intense sun by covering the roses with burlap or similar. Think about flower bulbsIf there is still a lot of snow over the areas where you planted fall bulbs, you can gently help the bulbs peek out a little earlier by moving away some of the snow. Perhaps you'll catch a glimpse of the first snowdrops already in the last winter months.
Mediterranian garden in winter
Reminiscent of southern regions in the Mediterranean garden now, but getting ready for the southern atmosphere. Keep an eye on the plants you overwinter. When overwintering Mediterranean plants like citrus and olive trees, think about the fact that they will experience a winter similar to that in the Mediterranean. Aim for a moist, cool, and bright environment.Grow the Mediterranean indoors. Herbs are an important part of cooking around the Mediterranean, and you don't have to wait until summer to indulge in them. For example, you can grow Italian herbs indoors in the kitchen.Plan the outdoor kitchen. If you don't already have an outdoor kitchen, maybe you want one. Use the winter to plan the outdoor kitchen, and find the perfect grill – or perhaps a pizza oven.Dream of a greenhouse or orangery... or make the dream come true. A greenhouse or orangery takes the Mediterranean garden to new heights – and there are many ways to do it, in vastly different price ranges. Take a look at our greenhouses and read the gardener's tips for choosing the right greenhouse for your needs.
Japandi-style in the winter
Water is essential in a japandi garden, and there are a few things to consider throughout the winter.,Plan the garden pondIf you have not yet fulfilled the dream of water in the garden, use the winter to plan a garden pond. This can be simple or complex, small or large, depending on what space, time, and motivation you have. Perhaps you just want a simple water mirror with some water plants.Winter-proof the garden pondRemove leaves and plant debris from the water in the garden pond before the frost comes, so that you do not get algae bloom in the spring. Empty the water filter and clean it properly. Pumps standing where the water will freeze at the bottom must be brought inside. Hoses between the filter and pump can usually stay outside.Provide air, food, and warmth for the fishIf you have fish in the water, they need oxygen to survive, so there must be a hole in the pond that is kept free of ice. Learn about what your fish need in terms of air, temperature, and food. Some types of fish need to be moved indoors for the winter, while others can survive with the help of a pond heater.Remember the water plantsHardy aquatic plants can stay where you have planted them throughout the winter. Unfortunately, floating plants do not survive our cold winters. Water lines in deep garden ponds (over 50 cm) that have grown properly may survive. Otherwise, they can be brought indoors for the winter and stored in a few degrees above freezing - in a bucket of water or dry.Protect rhododendron from the spring sunIf the sun starts shining in the spring, but the frost has not yet let go, it is wise to protect the rhododendron bush with burlap sacks.
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