Raring2go! Rochdale

30 raring2go .co.uk Raring2go! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raring2grow Raring2grow! HOME GARDENING IDEAS FOR FAMILIES ‘My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece’ Claude Monet www.raring2go.co.uk For more great tips click here to visit our Raring2grow! Facebook page 6 wonderfully simple ways to ‘Winterise’ your garden A good old clean up Gathering up the leaves, cleaning down the patio and clearing the garden of any rubbish that has gathered over time. Don’t throw the leaves in a recycling bin. Why not put them in a pile and make them into a perfect winter nest for Hedgehogs and other wildlife that visits throughout the winter? Racking your Lawn Doing this will encourage growth and help prevent moss growing. Raking help break up any thatch that you have and is generally considered to be really good for your lawn. Pruning Now’s the time to prune your trees, shrubs and roses. What you do now will help prevent dis- ease and will encourage better growth for next year. Tidy up bedding areas Clear any foliage from your plant beds and pots. Think about adding a top layer to your soil, an organic mulch is ideal to protect from the frosts and snowfall… Pots & hanging baskets There are some lovely plants that will still offer you colour during the Winter months such as Cycla- mens, pansies & polyanthus to name a few, so plant out your pots and keep enjoying their splendour, Winter doesn’t have to be dull! Wildlife Feeders Making your garden Wildlife friendly all year around is impor- tant, but it offers so much more… By putting food and water out for the birds & other visitors, is so satisfying and educational. The RSBP Big Garden Bird Watch in January is a lovely family affair, an hour of your time enjoying the different species coming into your garden and recording their num- bers is a lovely thing to do with the kids! For details see our full page for the RSPB! Preparing your Garden for the Winter can be an enjoyable expereince, esepcially so as you see the fruits of your labours which shoudl give you great satisfaction. Here are a few ideas to help you prepare and get everything in order for the months ahead.