Here is what to do now before the first snow lands.
By early November, gardeners start weighing up whether the first flakes will be a dusting or a proper covering. The moment before winter bites is when simple jobs make the biggest difference, especially once the ground turns slick and the days feel shorter. Think of it as a swift reset that helps your patch ride out the cold and bounce back in spring.
The original warnings target northern parts and higher elevations, where winter tends to show up first. The same rhythm applies here, from upland valleys to exposed coastlines where wind and chill cut through. Get ahead of the weather, then let your beds rest.
First snow on the cards, the quiet winter garden jobs to tick off now
If your garden has seen a killing frost or one is on the way, clear out tender crops and summer displays without delay. That means spent tomatoes, courgettes and beans, along with annual flowers that turned mushy once the temperature dipped. This tidy does more than neaten edges, it removes hiding places for pests and frees the soil to breathe through winter.
Only add this material to your compost if it looks clean with no blotches, mould, or stems that look diseased. If in doubt, bin it or burn it on a carefully tended fire where that is allowed. This simple split between what feeds the heap and what must go stops problems lingering until spring.
The goal is a garden ready to rest while your beds quietly gather strength. It is about care, not chasing perfection.
Compost first then mulch, the layering move that protects roots and soil
Give every border a generous layer of well rotted compost. Over winter it filters down and boosts the structure beneath your boots, ready for planting when the light returns. On top, add a blanket of mulch for a smart double act that holds nutrients, suppresses weeds and slows erosion during weeks of wind and rain.
Many gardeners lay their mulch in autumn. A second pass after the first hard frost can be the difference between plants sulking and plants sailing through. The idea is simple, protect the crown and roots, and help the soil hold steady when temperatures swing from mild to sharp overnight.
That two layer approach works for shrubs that dislike wet feet and for herbaceous perennials settling in for a long sleep. Light, even coverage wins over thick smothering. Et keep it a few centimetres away from stems to avoid rot.
What to clear and what to bin, the line between compost and fire
There is a quick rule that keeps winter prep straightforward. If plant matter is clean, it feeds the heap. If it carries disease, it leaves the garden. Keeping the cycle tight now means fewer headaches when shoots appear.
- Clear frost hit vegetables and summer annuals, compost only healthy waste, and dispose of the rest by binning or a carefully tended burn where permitted
Work steadily through beds so you do not miss tucked away corners where problems fester. Gardners often rush this bit and regret it when the same blight pops up in May. Take ten minutes more, check stems and leaves, and your spring self will thank you.
Edges matter too. Rake out debris that gathers against fences and around supports. Leave ornamental seedheads you love for birds and winter interest, then deal with the rest before weather pins it down under a crust of ice.
Hardy veg that stay put, the cold weather allies that only ask for mulch
Not every edible needs lifting before the cold sets in. Some stars shrug off rough weather and keep on giving with a little protection. Think brussels sprouts, spinach, and sturdy herbs such as thyme and sage, which tolerate low temperatures when the ground stays covered.
Tuck these plants in with a decent layer of mulch that buffers the worst of the chill. It is simple insurance if snow arrives early or a sharp snap follows a mild spell. The same goes for leafy greens that can keep producing small harvests in sheltered spots, provided they are guarded from biting winds.
Once your beds are dressed, step back and let winter do its work. The aim is not to force growth, it is to keep what matters safe until spring finds its feet. When the thaw comes, you will have a garden that looks calm and ready rather than battered and bare.
