Address the bare essentials: Winter strips a garden back to its bones – a chance to ponder and plan

As we come into winter, the garden is stripped bare. Leaves have fallen from the trees and herbaceous perennials have died back into the earth. We can see the bones of the garden again, providing a blank canvas on which to make changes.

Here in the northern hemisphere, we are lacking in vitamin D at this time of year.

So put on a coat and head out into the garden to soak up what little daylight there is. You will feel all the better for it.

If your garden is soggy or slippery underfoot, think about laying a new path or stepping stones. These don’t have to be expensive. Follow the desire lines you already use to move around the garden and mark the edges.

Remove the top layer of turf and dig a trench either side to insert an edging material such as bricks, stones, wood or Corten steel.

The simplest path is woodchip laid on a weed resistant membrane. If you want to use gravel or try laying bricks, it is a good idea to add a layer of crushed stone underneath. Stepping stones are even easier and can be dug directly into turf.

Another good project is to create a seating area which you can escape to with a cup of something hot. My own back garden is largely in shade from November to March, but the sun hits the very end, so this is where I place a seat.

You can use anything weatherproof, from a garden bench to a couple of cast iron chairs, with a bistro table between them.

PLANT ANEW

This is an excellent season to make a new border or renovate an existing one. If you are starting from scratch, decide on your spot depending on what you want to plant there.

For herbaceous plants, somewhere that gets sun for several hours a day in spring and summer is best. A shady corner can be used for a woodland border.

Mark out your flowerbed and remove turf with a cutter, placing it on the compost heap.

If you are planting straight into the ground, dig over the bed with a spade before adding organic matter.

If you are making a raised bed, you can just add soil on top of the grass.

When overhauling an existing border, leave any large shrubs and work the soil around them. Smaller plants can be lifted and kept to one side until you are ready to replant them.

Weed the bed thoroughly and add compost.

Spend the long dark evenings browsing seed and plant catalogues for inspiration, but save planting until the spring.

BRIGHTEN UP THE DAYS 

Aim to have a balance of about a third evergreen plants for structure, then think about layers and shapes. Combine tall grasses with ground cover, as well as statement plants. Plan to have something in flower for every month of the year.

Can you add a focal point to draw the eye down the garden? This could be a mirror hung from a fence reflecting the light or the shed, painted in a vibrant new shade.

And think about lighting to brighten up the dark nights: A simple string of fairy lights hung from a bush can provide a magical lift in midwinter.