Game on
Country Smallholding|November 2020
A little preparation in the autumn months will help to make the transition into winter smoother and put your garden and tools on a better footing come the spring, says Stephanie Bateman
Stephanie Bateman
Game on

It is never too early to start getting the garden ready for winter and the better your planning, the more likely you are to fast-track into next year’s growing season when spring arrives.

Lynsey Grinnell, head of marketing at Forest Garden, manufacturer of wooden garden products, advises gardeners to:

• Check all garden fences and ensure that they are secure and stable. The winter and early spring gales will quickly locate any panels that are loose.

• Check sheds or other buildings with felt roofs to ensure that the winter gales won’t get under the material and rip it off. Ensure that all windows close securely and that the glazing is in good condition.

• Decorative arches, gazebos and summer houses also need protecting against the ravages of the winter weather. If the garden gazebo is fitted with waterproof screens, ensure that they’re in good condition and tie them down securely.

• Lift all flowers and plants that have either ended their useful life or need protecting from the winter frosts.

• Harvest the final summer fruits and vegetables and compost the latter. November is an ideal time to prune fruit trees.

• Dig compost or manure into beds and borders in both flower and vegetable gardens and let the winter frosts break down the clods of earth.

• Clean and store garden furniture, ensuring that it is protected from the elements.

• Clear out dead and unwanted plants from containers and either move them into storage or protect them from the worst of the weather.

• Keep the log store filled with dry logs and clean out the boot store in readiness for the mud.

Denne historien er fra November 2020-utgaven av Country Smallholding.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra November 2020-utgaven av Country Smallholding.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA COUNTRY SMALLHOLDINGSe alt
The Secret World Of The Honey Bee
Country Smallholding

The Secret World Of The Honey Bee

Who knew that honey bees are the best builders? Nicola Bradbear from Bees for Development reveals how they build their parallel wax combs with extraordinary accuracy

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2020
Tip the light fantastic
Country Smallholding

Tip the light fantastic

The latest offering from Ifor Williams Trailers is the Single Axle Tipper, which is simply perfect for small-scale farmers

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2020
The legacy of The Good Life
Country Smallholding

The legacy of The Good Life

The Good Life captured the public’s imagination when it first aired in 1975. On Country Smallholding’s 45th birthday, Jeremy Hobson looks at this and other programmes with a self-sufficiency slant that have captivated urban and rural dwellers alike over nearly half a century

time-read
10 mins  |
November 2020
‘The hens took shelter under the pig trailer in the paddock'
Country Smallholding

‘The hens took shelter under the pig trailer in the paddock'

A tree Armageddon frightens poultry diarist Julian Hammer’s flock and leaves him with a mammoth clear-up job

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2020
Tools of the trade
Country Smallholding

Tools of the trade

In the second part of his mini-series on tools that are useful around the holding, Kevin Alviti takes an in-depth look at the iconic scythe, a thistle paddle and forks that were once virtually indispensable to small-scale farmers

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2020
The nightclub bouncer of the sheep world
Country Smallholding

The nightclub bouncer of the sheep world

Adam Henson waxes lyrical about the Texel, which boasts such a stocky body that it resembles a box of muscle on four legs

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2020
Buying on a tight budget
Country Smallholding

Buying on a tight budget

As demand for smallholdings increases and prices continue to rise, is there a way to achieve your dream without forking out a fortune? In the first part of a new mini-series, Liz Shankland explores the possibilities

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2020
Crazy for crafts
Country Smallholding

Crazy for crafts

In an ordinary back garden and single paddock near Kidderminster, Kay Dalloway has created both a thriving smallholding and a successful fibre business — all while working full time for the NHS. Helen Babbs drops by to find out about her ventures

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2020
Game on
Country Smallholding

Game on

A little preparation in the autumn months will help to make the transition into winter smoother and put your garden and tools on a better footing come the spring, says Stephanie Bateman

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2020
1975 And All That
Country Smallholding

1975 And All That

Country Smallholding is 45 this month. To celebrate, Jeremy Hobson takes a look at some of the changes — both good and bad — to small-scale farming over that near half-century

time-read
9 mins  |
November 2020