Garden tips for the colder months

A source of warmth is the first essential item to furnish your garden during the colder months. 

Fire pits and chimineas are far more economical and environmentally friendly than patio heaters as they burn wood. They create a wonderful focal point for entertaining guests and are ideal for making the most of a beautiful evening.

They often come with a grill attachment which can be used to barbecue, cook popcorn, toast marshmallows and roast chestnuts – so eating hot food outside can become a four-season treat.

Clever lighting can transform a cold, uninviting garden into a magical wonderland. It also helps create an eye-catching view from indoors.

Strings of fairy lights draped between trees, tea lights in jam jars placed along pathways, and solar lights illuminating foliage are all great ways to create an instantly welcoming garden space.

For safety, and to avoid disturbing nocturnal wildlife, just make sure you switch everything off at the end of the evening.

Flowering shrubs like daphnes, sarcocca, viburnums and chimonanthus give off a rich perfume throughout the winter months.

Place them in pots in your front garden, and around your patio and seating areas, so you can make the most of their fragrance in the months ahead.

Plants with a silvery foliage are ideal for the cooler seasons as their unique shimmer adds a perfect wintry appeal to any garden. 

Try Convolvulus cneorum, Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’, and evergreen grasses such as Helictotrichon sempervirens.

You can plant them in pots and transplant them into the garden in spring.

Topiary is a great way to ensure your garden looks its best during the colder months. You can buy ready-made topiary or master the art of pruning as a cold season hobby.

Yew, box, privet and ilex crenata all clip well. 

You could try more traditional ball, cube and pyramid shapes – or get creative with your own pruning style. Remember however to be gradual when pruning