How to update your garden for winter
Embrace the outdoors all year round with our guide to winter-proofing gardens, encouraging wildlife and bringing greenery inside
Time spent outdoors is restorative mentally and physically – and that urge to batten down the hatches and hide away from September to March only contributes to winter blues. So take a moment now to sow some seeds and ensure your outdoor space remains a haven all through autumn and winter. And prepare for the really grim days by tweaking your interiors to bring the benefits of the garden inside.
Gold Whisper members can enjoy 15% off Patch products throughout 2018. Head to 'Gold Benefits' to redeem this offer.
Weather-proof your plants: winter gardening tips
While those pots can always benefit from a feed, in general you can cutback on plant food and fertilizer during winter when growth goes dormant. Instead spend some time boosting the soil by adding a layer of good quality compost on the top. It's not a glam job (gardening gloves are vital if you don't to spend hours scrubbing dirt from under your nails) but it's simple enough and you can get 50 litres of nutrient-rich Miracle Grow delivered directly to your door from Patch.
Invest in evergreens: plants that live all year round
Left, Heuchera Sweet Tea; right, Camellia. Both available to order online at Patch
Avoid bare twigs and barrenness by stocking up on plants that stay bright and green all year. With deep, glossy leaves and a flurry of delicate pink flowers from January to May, Camellias are a winter garden hero. If you make the effort to plant them in special ericaceous compost for added acdity (order here), they will be the easiest and most rewarding of plants, blooming through the dark midwinter. Autumn oranges can last all year with the Heuchera Sweet Tea. This hardy hybrid plant has maple-shaped leaves, which remain a rich rust colour all year and look especially jolly fanning from terracotta pots or window troughs.
Left, Olive Tree; right, Japanese Sedge Grass both available to order from Patch
If you want to recreate holiday vibes, invest in an Olive Tree. It won't yield anything edible without Mediterranean heat, but the leaves will stay silvery green all year round without any maintenance. For smaller spaces, Japanese Sedge Grass grows in cheerful tufts of green and yellow and is great for adding texture and brightness. Plus, it can withstand tempartures below -20 degrees so will be fine with whatever beast from the east this year holds.
Outdoor accessories: merry and bright additions to the garden
Left to right: Fire Pit and Festoon Lighting, both available to order online from Patch; assorted Sheepskin rugs from John Lewis; assorted brass lanterns from Nkuku
Bring some warmth to chillier times with a few cosy touches. Patio heaters are big, bulky and reminiscent of pub gardens. If you want to make your garden enticing for winter parties, invest in a fire pit for a bright, warm focal point for huddling and marshmallow toasting. Add to the ambiance with draped festoon lighting. The strings of bulbs are like a sleeker, edgier and more grown up version of fairylights, creating a warm glow without a whiff of Blackpool illuminations. Add some flickering candles in an assortment of glass lanterns for full effect. And for maximum hygge, cover cold metal outdoor furniture with sheepskin rugs (just remember to bring them back inside when you're finished in the garden).
Creatures great and small: encourage wildlife in the garden
Left to right: Hedgehog house from Garden Trading; Insect House and Bird Feeder, both from Trouva
There's more to urban wildlife than foxes raiding rubbish bins. Give yourself a Disney princess moment by encouraging birds to come and tweet at the window and helping those that don't fly south survive the colder months. No longer the reserve of dull suburbia, bird feeders can be a sleek and chic addition to even the smallest balcony. We like the minimalist design of this white stoneware one. Of course London life means you'll attract a lot of pigeons, but it's worth putting up with their cooing for sightings of little robin redbreast.
Bugs might not sound as appealing but insects are vital to a flourishing garden and healthy planet. This bright raindrop-shaped house looks cheerful yet unobtrusive and will attract the right kind of creepy crawlies by providing somewhere for ladybirds and bees to nest over colder months. And if you have the space, why not find yourself a prickly lodger? A wooden hedgehog house looks like something from a children's picture book. The small entrance means no cats, dogs or foxes can get in so hedgehogs can hibernate in peace.
Bring the outside in: house plants and botanical interiors
Left to right: Snake Plant, Aspidistra and Zamioculcas Raven, all available to order from Patch.com.
When bleak weather has you burrowing into a blanket, you can still fake the outdoor experience. Pot Plants are a millennial obsession for good reason: they purify air, score high on Insta feeds and give the simple satisfaction of nurturing something (with minimal responsibility). As most houseplants hail from tropical climes, there's not much seasonal shift. To help your plants survive winter move them away from radiators so harsh heating doesn't dry them out, and out of the way of any icy drafts. As most plants stop growing over winter months, they will need less water and fertilizer. Don't overdo it and kill them with kindness; as a rule of thumb only water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
If you're stocking up on house plants, Patch makes it easy. You can order plants online and have them delivered right to the door. Delivery on orders over £50 is free to London and Greater London postcodes. We love the 'unkillable' edit featuring a Snake Plant, the dramatic bleak-leaved Zamioculcas Raven and the strong structural shapes of an Aspidistra.
Finally, when we reach the dark days of deepest winter sometimes only faking it will do. You don't have to be diagnosed with Seasonal Affectivity Disorder to feel low when deprived of natural light. A quick stint in front of a sun light therapy lamp mimics daylight and lifts the mood and vitamins. Alas they're yet to design a sunlight bulb to fit into a chic standing lamp or anglepoise, but at least this Lumie Lamp is portable and small enough to pack away come spring time.
Gold Whisper members can enjoy 15% off Patch products throughout 2018. Head to 'Gold Benefits' to redeem this offer.
