Winter Garden Tasks Checklist for UK Gardens

December Jobs

Protect tender plants

By December, tender plants like dahlias, cannas, bananas and tree ferns need protection. In mild areas you may get away with wrapping the crown in fleece and straw. In colder areas lift dahlias and store the tubers in a frost free shed. See the RHS winter protection guide for detailed methods.

Prune deciduous trees and shrubs

December to February is the dormant season, the right time to prune many deciduous trees and shrubs. Without leaves you can see the structure clearly. Remove dead, diseased and crossing wood. Thin crowded branches. Aim for an open goblet shape on fruit trees.

Do not prune stone fruits like cherries and plums in winter because they are prone to silver leaf disease. Prune them in summer instead.

Plant bare root trees and hedges

December is a good month for planting bare root trees, hedges and shrubs, as long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. See our guide to the best time to plant hedges for the full planting calendar.

Clean and sharpen tools

Winter is the time to give your tools some attention. Clean off soil and sap, sharpen secateurs and shears, oil moving parts, and treat wooden handles with linseed oil. Replace any tools that are beyond repair.

Service the mower

Book the mower in for a winter service. The blades need sharpening, the oil needs changing, and any worn parts need replacing. A mower serviced in December is ready for the first cut in March.

January Jobs

Clear fallen leaves

By January most leaves are down but there are still plenty around. Keep clearing them from lawns (where they smother the grass) and paths (where they become slippery). Collect into bags or a leaf pen to make leaf mould. See our autumn checklist for more on leaf management.

Prune apple and pear trees

January is the ideal month for winter pruning of apple and pear trees. The trees are fully dormant and the structure is visible. Remove dead and diseased wood, thin crowded spur systems, and shorten the previous year's growth by about a third.

Prune wisteria

Wisteria is pruned twice a year. The winter prune in January or February involves shortening the side shoots cut back in summer to 2 or 3 buds. This encourages flowering spurs rather than leafy growth.

Plant snowdrops in the green

Snowdrops establish much better when planted in the green, that is, in leaf just after flowering, than as dry bulbs in autumn. January to March is the time to buy and plant snowdrops in the green.

Force rhubarb

Cover a rhubarb crown with a forcing jar or upturned bucket in January to exclude light. The stems will grow long, tender and pink and be ready to harvest 6 to 8 weeks earlier than uncovered plants.

Check ties and stakes

Check tree ties and stakes on young trees. Loosen ties that are too tight, replace broken stakes, and remove stakes from trees that have been in for more than 2 years and no longer need support.

February Jobs

Prune late summer flowering shrubs

Shrubs that flower on the current year's growth, like buddleia, caryopteris, hardy fuchsia and hydrangea paniculata, are pruned hard in February. Cut back to a low framework of stems, about 30 to 60cm tall. This encourages strong new growth that will flower in late summer.

See our hydrangea profile for pruning details by species.

Cut back ornamental grasses

Deciduous grasses like miscanthus and calamagrostis should be cut back to about 10cm in February before new growth starts. Evergreen grasses like stipa and carex just need a comb through to remove dead leaves.

Prepare seed beds

Cover vegetable beds with polythene or fleece to warm the soil for early sowing. The soil under cover can be 5 Celsius warmer than uncovered soil, which means you can sow seeds 2 to 3 weeks earlier.

Sow early seeds

In a greenhouse or on a windowsill, start sowing seeds of tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, onions and leeks. These need a long growing season and benefit from an early start under cover.

Top dress containers

Remove the top 5cm of compost from permanent containers and replace with fresh compost mixed with a slow release fertiliser. This refreshes the nutrients without repotting the whole plant.

Plant bare root roses

February is the last good month for planting bare root roses. See our rose profile for spacing and aftercare.

Protecting Plants in Winter

Fleece and bubble wrap

Wrap tender shrubs like ceanothus, hebe and bay in horticultural fleece when hard frost is forecast. For potted plants that cannot be moved, bubble wrap the pot to protect the roots from freezing.

Mulch tender plants

A 10cm mulch of bark or compost around the base of tender plants like dahlias (left in the ground), agapanthus and cordylines protects the roots from frost. Apply after the first frost so rodents do not nest in the loose mulch.

Move tender pots under cover

Pelargoniums, citrus, olives and other tender potted plants should be moved to a frost free greenhouse, conservatory or shed by December. A cool but frost free spot with maximum light is ideal.

Brush snow off branches

Heavy snow on evergreen shrubs and conifers can break branches. Use a broom to gently brush snow off after each fall. Do not try to remove ice because the branches will be brittle.

Winter Lawn Care

Stay off the grass

The single most important winter lawn job is to stay off it when it is frozen or waterlogged. Walking on frozen grass breaks the blades. Walking on waterlogged grass compacts the soil and destroys drainage. See our article on why lawns get mossy for what compaction does.

Clear leaves and debris

Keep the lawn clear of leaves and debris through winter. A layer of leaves left for a few weeks will smother the grass and leave dead patches.

Avoid walking on frosty lawns

Walking on a frosty lawn breaks the grass blades and leaves black footprints that take weeks to grow out. Wait until the frost has lifted before going on the grass.

Plan spring lawn work

Winter is the time to plan spring lawn renovation. Book scarifying and aerating for March or April. See our lawn recovery service for what this involves.

Winter Wildlife Care

Feed the birds

Winter is when garden birds need the most help. Put out a mix of seeds, fat balls and suet. Keep feeders clean to prevent disease. Provide fresh water every day, breaking the ice in freezing weather.

Create habitat piles

A pile of logs, branches and leaves in a quiet corner provides shelter for hedgehogs, frogs, toads and beneficial insects. Leave it undisturbed through winter. See our guide to creating a wildlife garden for more.

Plant for winter berries

If you have space, plant shrubs that provide winter berries for birds: holly, pyracantha, cotoneaster, viburnum, and hawthorn. These give birds natural food through the coldest months.

Leave seed heads

Resist the urge to cut everything back in autumn. Seed heads of plants like teasel, echinacea, rudbeckia and sunflowers provide food for finches and other birds through winter.

Winter Garden Maintenance

Clean paths and patios

Winter is a good time to clean slippery paths and patios. Algae and moss build up over winter and become dangerously slippery. Pressure wash on a dry day, or treat with a moss killer. See our pressure washing service.

Plan next year's borders

Winter is when you can see the bare bones of the garden. Use the dormant season to assess which beds are working and which need a rethink. Take photos and notes, sketch new planting schemes, and order plants for spring delivery. A bit of planning in January saves expensive impulse buys at the garden centre in April.

Look at the evergreen structure first. If the garden looks flat and empty in winter, add some evergreen shrubs like viburnum, sarcococca, or pittosporum in the spring. Then look at the deciduous shrubs and consider whether any need moving, replacing, or pruning harder next winter. A garden that has been assessed in winter always looks better by the following winter.

Check fences and structures

Inspect fences, pergolas, trellis and arches for damage from winter winds. Repair or replace before the growing season puts weight on climbing plants.

Clean greenhouse glass

Wash greenhouse glass inside and out to maximise light transmission. Even a thin layer of algae can reduce light by 20 percent, which matters when days are short.

Order seeds and plan

Winter evenings are for browsing seed catalogues and planning the year ahead. Order seeds in January because popular varieties sell out by February. Plan crop rotation in the vegetable garden and plan new planting schemes in ornamental beds.

Costs of Winter Garden Work

• Winter pruning visit: 60 to 150 pounds depending on size
• Lawn leaf clearance: 40 to 100 pounds per visit
• Greenhouse clean: 80 to 200 pounds
• Pressure washing patio: 150 to 400 pounds depending on size
• Mower service: 60 to 120 pounds
• Fleece and mulch for tender plants: 30 to 80 pounds for materials

Many clients reduce maintenance visits to monthly through winter but keep the garden ticking over. See our guide to how often a gardener should visit for scheduling.

Common Winter Mistakes

Walking on frozen lawns

This breaks the grass blades and leaves black footprints that take weeks to disappear. Stay off when it is frosty.

Pruning in freezing weather

Cuts made in freezing weather do not heal properly and can let in disease. Wait for a mild spell.

Leaving tender plants unprotected

A single hard frost can kill a dahlia or a banana that has been thriving for years. Protect before the first frost, not after.

Cutting everything back in autumn

Seed heads and standing stems provide winter food and shelter for wildlife. They also look beautiful in frost. Leave them until February.

Forgetting the birds

Birds that have relied on your garden all summer need you most in winter. Keep feeding through the cold months.

Final Thoughts

Winter is a quieter time in the garden but it is not a time to switch off. The jobs done in December, January and February set up the rest of the year. Pruning done well in winter means healthy plants in summer. Protection done in time means tender plants survive. Planning done in the dark evenings means a garden that delivers when spring arrives.

Use the winter months well and the rest of the year becomes much easier. Ignore the garden in winter and you will spend spring catching up.

Winter maintenance service

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mow the lawn in winter?

Only if the grass is still growing and the ground is firm and dry. In a mild winter you might mow once in January or February with the blades set high. In a cold wet winter do not mow at all.

When should I prune my roses?

Most roses are pruned in late February or early March, when the worst of the winter is over but before new growth starts. See our rose profile for details.

Should I clear snow off shrubs?

Yes, gently. Heavy snow can break branches, especially on evergreens. Use a broom to brush it off. Do not try to remove ice.

What can I plant in winter?

Bare root trees, hedges and shrubs can be planted from November to March as long as the ground is not frozen. Winter is also a good time to plant deciduous container grown trees and shrubs.

Further Reading

• Autumn garden checklist
• Spring garden checklist
• Best time to plant hedges in the UK
• How to create a wildlife garden

Sources and citations

This article draws on the following sources. Specific claims are cited inline where relevant.

1. CGM field records (2025-11. Site observations from gardens across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Bedfordshire.
2. Royal Horticultural Society (2024). RHS Gardening Advice and Plant Finder. Available at rhs.org.uk.
3. Met Office (2024). Regional climate averages, South East England. Available at metoffice.gov.uk.
4. British Geological Survey (2024). Soil parent material data for the Chilterns and Thames Valley. Available at bgs.ac.uk.