Pat Duke: Crucial tasks in winter garden

If there’s one positive to come out of the calm after storms Bert and Darragh, it's that all the dead leaves have surely been blown from the trees by now. 

Hopefully all the leaves have been blown to a nearby garden, but if they haven’t you have a free resource to turn into leaf mould. 

If you have more than three or four bin bags full its probably worth rigging up four posts wrapped around with chicken wire in an out of the way, shady place. This will easily solve your issue with mass leaf clearance. 

The problem with making leaf mould is that it can take up to two years. This can be accelerated by shredding the leaves under a mower, turning them every few months, keeping them damp and adding coffee grounds and then covering them with plastic sheeting (or a tarpaulin that’s also been blown in). 

This way it will be ready in around a year when you can start the process all over again. 

Leaf mould that's broken down acts as a soil conditioner that improves the structure of your soil. 

Remember, soil wellbeing is everything in gardening. Without healthy soil there’s not much you can do, so adding some form of nutrients to it every year is simply good husbandry. 

Leaf mould improves water retention and its relatively coarse texture helps the soil make small holes for roots to push through easily. 

Even if after a year the leaf mould doesn’t look ready or fully broken down, it can still be added as a top dressing or a mulch that will be enjoyed by micro fauna and dragged into the ground for added soil diversity over the winter. 

Most professional gardeners have a leaf mould container of some sort as a going concern throughout the year and would n’t dream of not adding this at least once a year. 

On the Plot

Not surprisingly, winter veg will need some protection for the onset of freezing conditions. 

Brassicas need robust netting to prevent determined pigeons and blackbirds taking the whole crop. 

Softer green leaves will definitely be saved by a layer of horticultural fleece placed high over the top. 

Nothing looks sadder than limp fleece suffocating salad crops so just give plenty of air between the leaves and fleece to prevent fungus and disease taking over. 

Check any fruit trees after the storms and stake them if they've been affected by wind rock. 

This will be obvious as the roots will have much more ‘give’ in them when held than normal. The trees will soon outgrow the stakes and roots with stability will be established as a result. 

Smaller stems like asparagus and Jerusalem artichokes, both perennials, will benefit from having their stems cut back for the same reason. 

Keep the asparagus bed clear of weeds and anything that asparagus beetles might hide or live under. Not doing this might see your crop decimated overnight or not even appear. 

Spare a thought for wildlife at this time of year when they are struggling to survive and won’t be able to help out in the garden if they are not here next spring. 

Leave out feed for the birds if you can and don’t feel the need to tidy up every pile of twigs or grass clippings that can provide food and shelter for helpful animals and insects. 

It’s worth popping a few currants or raisins in your pocket in this colder weather for when the ubiquitous robin appears on your spade handle. This might be the difference between seeing them again in spring and not. 

Spend some time in the shed sharpening tools and checking machinery that needs to go for a service. Doing this now might save you time and money rather than doing it in the mad rush of early spring.