❄️ Winter (December – February)

Garden

• Keep water ice-free for birds

• Feed high-energy food

• Leave seed heads, log & leaf piles for shelter

• Clean bird boxes (Feb)

• Sow wildflower seeds indoors

Pond

• Keep part of pond ice-free for oxygen

• Remove small amounts of algae on mild days

Pruning

• Bush roses – main prune Jan–Feb

• Rambling roses – winter prune if not cut in summer

• Fruit trees (apple & pear) – shape & remove crossing branches

• Grapevines – hard prune Jan (before sap rises)

• Wisteria – prune side shoots to 2–3 buds (Feb)

• Blackcurrants – remove oldest stems at base

• Red/white currants – shorten side shoots to 1–2 buds

• Gooseberries – shorten side shoots to 2 buds, open centre

• Autumn-fruiting raspberries – cut all canes to ground (Feb)

🌸 Spring (March – May)

Garden

• Cut back old perennials (March)

• Mulch borders with compost

• 🚫 No hedge cutting – nesting season

• Plant nectar-rich flowers

• No Mow May – let lawn grow

• Watch frogspawn & tadpoles

• Avoid major cleaning – wildlife active

Pruning

• Roses – main prune in March (outward-facing buds)

• Hydrangea – remove old flower heads (March/April)

• Winter shrubs (mahonia, viburnum) – prune after flowering

• Spring shrubs (forsythia, flowering currant) – prune after flowering

• Summer raspberries – tie in new canes, remove weak/damaged ones

☀️ Summer (June – September)

Garden

• Continue No Mow or mow paths only

• Leave seed heads & wild patches

• Water wildlife-friendly plants in dry spells

• Cut meadows (Aug–Sept)

• Plant bulbs (Sept)

• Leave fallen fruit for wildlife

Pruning

• Rambling roses – prune after flowering (July/Aug), tie in new shoots

• Wisteria – summer prune side shoots to 5–6 leaves (July/Aug)

• Lavender – prune lightly after flowering

• Fruit bushes (currants, gooseberries) – light prune after harvest, open centre

• Strawberries – after fruiting, cut back old leaves

• Blackberries & hybrids – cut fruited canes to ground, tie in new ones

• Summer shrubs (weigela, philadelphus, buddleia) – prune after bloom

🍂 Autumn (October – November)

Garden

• Rake leaves into wildlife piles

• Plant native trees & hedges

• Build bug & hedgehog shelters

• Keep feeding birds

• Plant tulips & spring bulbs

Pond

• Net pond if trees nearby

• Remove fallen leaves & debris

• Thin overcrowded pond plants

• Stop feeding fish (Nov)

• Avoid deep cleaning – amphibians hibernating

Pruning

• Roses – light tidy before winter winds (Nov)

• Hydrangea paniculata – prune back in late autumn if needed

• Grapevines – begin dormant pruning late Nov

• Blueberries – prune lightly once leaves fall

• Remove dead/diseased wood from trees & shrubs