Unlike our interior living spaces, which remain the same throughout the year, gardens are influenced by the season and many of our residential designs require consideration, maintenance, and redesign depending on the time of year. Those who endeavour to maintain the same garden design regardless of the climate are certain to see their outdoor space lose its quality and appeal.

The most challenging season for an outdoor space is, of course, winter. If preparation is not made before the season begins and with ongoing upkeep taking place through the cold weather, a garden’s landscape may change for the worse, with harsh weather even beginning to damage property. Here’s how such risk can be avoided.

Think Like Water

If you’ve noticed rainfall pooling at any point in the year, whether at the end of a lawn or beneath a drainpipe, it is important to take care of the issue before winter arrives. This is because both heavy rainfall and the less frequent time residents spend outdoors can lead to water pooling becoming floods.

While floods may only seem like a minor issue, those that occur with sudden and unexpected rainfall and disappear shortly after, collected water can very quickly become unstable ground or even an internal leak. This is why the clearing of drain pipes is an important activity because water collecting atop a roof, for example, can creep into a home and cause damage, noticed only when it is too late. Ground-level drainage areas are also prone to becoming clogged with leaf litter and mud.

Clear Away Furniture

Your garden furniture may not hold up in the harsh weather. Whether they are likely to be damaged by rainfall or swept away in harsh winds, any susceptible item in a garden space should be covered or sheltered to ensure they maintain their quality throughout the season.

A common feature of many gardens is dining furniture, with chairs being a frequent victim of gusts, being toppled over or swept into flower beds. As such, when heading into the winter season, consider putting them into storage or having them stacked away, so as to prevent such occurrences. Those with garden sheds or log cabins can simply store their furniture for the season, keeping it safe and dry.

Watch Your Weeds

Unwanted plants aren’t just an aesthetic nuisance but a potential problem to landscapes and properties. Common examples include bindweed and bramble, both of which can spread quickly, overwhelm other plants, and be remarkably difficult to remove. Certain plants can even begin to infiltrate parts of an outdoor space where they can cause more severe issues too.

Accordingly, those with gardens should ensure that they take care to maintain their garden over the winter period, picking out any presence of budding weeds, so as to prevent them from becoming established. Failure to do so will mean that the springtime is less pleasant, with a garden likely to be covered in robust and unwanted growth.