5 Quick Garden Jobs You Can Do This Winter

December 15, 2025

Winter may seem like a quiet period in the garden, but it doesn’t have to be! There is still plenty you can do to keep your garden looking healthy and tidy throughout the winter, especially in January when the days are short and the air is cold. The good news? Winter gardening jobs are fairly simple, slow-paced, and suited to anyone, whether you’re a passionate gardener or a complete beginner.

Here are 5 quick jobs you can do this winter to keep your garden healthy and ready for the growing season ahead 🌱

🍂 Clear leaves and debris from the grass, beds and pathways

Although grass grows more slowly in the cold, it still benefits from regular maintenance throughout the winter months. Keeping your grass and pathways clear from leaves and debris prevents your grass from being smothered and helps prevent moss growth. Moss can make paths slippery, so for your safety as well as your garden's health, it’s important to manage this risk. You could even save some fallen leaves and place them in a quiet corner of your garden, creating a cosy winter hideaway for various insects and even hedgehogs. There's no need to remove every leaf from your planting beds, just where plants may need extra breathing space and sunlight.

❄️ Protect pots and vulnerable plants from frost

Plants that aren’t considered “hardy” must be moved to a frost-free location, such as a cool greenhouse or conservatory, where sunlight exposure is still available. If your plants are fairly large, then moving them to a sheltered spot against your home's wall makes them less likely to freeze.

Even just pots alone will need protection against the pesky frost, as it can cause pots to crack and lose their integrity, leading to moisture loss in the soil. Therefore, to protect pots from frosting, you can also move them closer to your house where it’s warmer, wrap them up so they are insulated from the freezing air, or put them in a greenhouse if you have one available to you.

Need a little extra help knowing if a frost is on the way?

A Digital Min/Max Thermometer is great for giving you a clear picture of temperature drops in your garden by monitoring daily highs and lows, which you can refer back to with the click of a button, while also accurately measuring temperature in real time. It’s a simple way to get ahead of potential frosts and protect your plants before freezing conditions arrive.

🐦 Top up bird feeders and support wildlife

Your garden becomes a vital pit stop for wildlife during the winter; they rely on our outdoor spaces for food and water sources during a time of scarcity in the natural world, especially birds. Therefore, ensuring you are doing your bit to help wildlife thrive throughout the cooler months is essential to their survival.

If you have bird feeders in your garden, make sure they remain topped up throughout the winter. Why not even include some suet balls to help give visiting birds an extra boost of energy?

After an especially chilly night, break the ice on water sources in your garden, so wildlife can still access fresh water.

🧹Tidy your outdoor space

January is the perfect time to complete those satisfying indoor tasks that we overlook during the busy growing season. The jobs that make you feel organised for the year ahead without needing to brave the cold.

· Cleaning and sharpening your garden tools.

· Wash out your old pots, ready for spring seedlings.

· Make a list of the seedlings and bulbs you may already have, and take some time to decide what you would like to grow next!

These basic jobs now make gardening throughout the next year a bit easier.

🪴 Monitor humidity in your greenhouse

Greenhouses can be susceptible to humidity buildup due to limited ventilation if not managed properly. While many plants flourish in higher humidity levels, excessive moisture in the air can promote mould growth, which can be detrimental to the health of your plants. You can manage humidity levels in your greenhouse by:

· Increase ventilation by opening windows or using a dehumidifier if you have one, to promote air flow.

· Space out your plant pots so that air can move freely around them, and prevent moisture buildup on the plants themselves.

· Remove any yellowing leaves.

· Although the air tends to be dry during the winter, if humidity levels are looking a bit low, you could use a shallow pan of water or a small humidifier to help maintain a consistent level of moisture in the air.

You can track greenhouse humidity levels using a hygrometer. Also known as humidity meters, it’s a low-effort way to create the right environment for overwintering your plants and avoid any unwelcome surprises or plant casualties.

You don’t need to be a gardening expert to care for your garden this winter. Small and simple steps are often all it takes to keep your outdoor space looking beautiful and healthy through the cooler months. This season, enjoy the quieter pace, and help your garden flourish when the warmer days return.

FAQs:

Do I need to water my garden in winter?
Sometimes, yes, but only occasionally. Most plants need less water during the winter, but containers and pots can dry out quickly if they're sheltered from rainfall. Give potted plants a light watering on milder days if the soil feels dry. Avoid watering when frozen.

How can I tell if a plant is frost-damaged?
Frost-damaged plants often look wilted and darker in colour. Leaves can become mushy, and growth stunted. Wait to prune for spring, as some plants will recover once warmer weather arrives.

Should I mow the lawn during winter?
Usually no, but occasionally you can, as grass grows much slower during the winter, but on mild days, you could give it a light trim if needed, and don't cut your grass if frozen or waterlogged.

What's the best way to protect outdoor taps from freezing?
Wrap them in insulating material, such as tap covers, bubble wrap, or an old towel secured with a string or anything you can tie around it. This helps prevent pipes from freezing and cracking during freezing periods.

What should I do with my garden tools during winter if I don't have a shed?
Store them somewhere dry, such as a utility room, an understairs cupboard, a covered porch area or even a waterproof storage box. Just make sure to give them a clean before entering an indoor space and to prevent your tools from rusting.

How can I stop pots from becoming waterlogged this winter?
Check that your containers have adequate drainage holes and raise your pots off the ground slightly using wooden feet or bricks so the water has an escape route, preventing water pooling and reducing the risk of root rot.