Anyone else devastated

[myotherface]

By the end of the gardening season? Even the gardeners world finishing for the winter feels upsetting. I've only discovered gardening last year but it's one of the biggest things to help with my mental health. Trying to find something else that would feel similar and keep me afloat but struggling.. At least there's still mulching and planting of bulbs but even that won't last forever.. Anyone else feels this way and have you find any good winter replacement?

I spend a lot of time over winter planning for next year! Ordering seeds, etc, planning where to plant new things or what needs moving. I also use it as a time for non-plant things, new waterbury, compost equipment, clearing and organizing tools etc, feeding the birds and so on. Not as fun perhaps, but with the promise of cake and a hot drink inside it can still be quite appealing, and make the start of the new garden season a little smoother. Also, if you have access, you could go to national trust or RHS gardens and wander around and see what they have for winter interest. Might give some inspiration so you can keep enjoying your garden throughout the year.

Water butts that should say!

But it doesn't finish! The winter flowering jasmine has already started flowering and will be in flower till april, same for Viburnum bodnantense the autumn leaves are still on many of the trees and look stunning, Cyclamen coum leaves are up and will soon be followed by flowers, some of the spring bulbs are already showing their noses above ground, and very soon we'll have to stop walking on the "lawn" because of all the daffodils coming through. I find it a really optimistic time of year because in amongst all the dying leaves there are unmistakeable signs of the spring to come.

Gardening wise it's busy - all the pruning, clearing of dead leaves of grass and paths, trying to get in a last mow, mulching, and turning what's left of the compost heap to start a new heap, clearing out the old tomato and cucumber plants from the greenhouse, putting up the bubble wrap, and bringing in dahlias and other tender plants from the garden. Then there's all the planning for next year, buying seeds, sowing sweet peas. In 7 weeks the days will be getting longer again, and another 7 weeks from then you can start sowing a few things again.

Try walking around your garden and having a really good look at whet is there - notice the different bark patterns, look for the buds at the ends of branches and watch them begin to swell, look at the overwintering rosettes of perennial plants. Start researching winter gardens, see if you can plant up a small bit of your garden with plants for winter interest - coloured barks and stems, and things that flower on bare stems in the middle of winter. Look at things like Helleborus, dogwood, Rubus cockberniensis, Daphne, Witch hazel (Hammamelis).

Winter clearing up and pruning, planning for next year, cleaning of pots and tools etc. Loads to do and not enough garden bin collection days left..!

I did feel quite sad with Montys closing words on Gardeners World :( but, the gardening does still go on. Pots to clean, tools to sharpen (I've yet to do this but my tools are in need of this).
I have a raised bed that needs emptying and then turning in anticipation of my new greenhouse which is turning up in April.
I need to decide what to grow where and decide which seeds to buy.
We have a new compost bin, a green Johanna, which we need to empty the old one into and then turn the area that was in into a small wildlife pond.
Now, I just need to find some energy to do all that.

@Bargebill19

Winter clearing up and pruning, planning for next year, cleaning of pots and tools etc. Loads to do and not enough garden bin collection days left..!

I compost everything, no waste then.

I love winter in the garden.

I read this post yesterday & thought you might appreciate it

lilacmoon78

I saw a post yesterday which made me feel a little bit more like I could cope with everything.
It said:
"Every day I try telling myself, Keep working, because when this is all over, you’ll be glad for the work you’ve done. It’s like the long winters of the past, when the granaries would slowly empty and people started to fear spring would never come again: during the dark days, you do things. You repair your tools. You enjoy each other’s company. You sing old songs and write new ones. You make ropes and nets and weave blankets and do anything you don’t have time for in the summer. And it’s hard to do it and hard to stay hopeful, but that way, when spring comes - and spring does come, spring will come - you can start working in the fields with a brand-new plow and good boots and a head full of songs."

@CoronaIsWatching
We would have a huge rat problem with composting. We live on the canal - so have a rat population that doesn’t need any encouragement.

Op do you have a small garden? There is lots to be done over winter if so.

Plant bulbs, over seed your lawn, weed borders, prune plants that need it, plant and care for winter flowering plants. Clear out old pots, prepare new compost, plan next years planting etc

We have quite a large garden, we have leaves to clear, borders to weed, plants and trees to prune. Trees to come down, wood to be moved, this years pots to be cleared, compost to be sorted, veg beds to be turned. It really is a full year job.

Winter jobs
weeding and mulching
pruning and planning
rake the lawn every week, edging and tidying
make sure paths are weed free
LOTS to do - winter flies past in the garden

I had a happy half hour giving caterpillars flying lessons this morning so that my kale crop has less holes in it
I throw them onto an empty bed and the wasps and robins tidy up

OP did you watch gardeners world last night? There was a feature about a winter garden, filled with plants chosen for their colour, scent, shape etc during the winter months. It was inspiring, I have been to the winter walk garden at Anglesey Abbey in Cambs, and this one was on similar lines. I think if I had space for two gardens I would have a winter garden [or a berry orchard for birds, a native trees woodland, or a huge pond, or an arboretum........] But as others have said , there is a lot happening in even the most ordinary garden if you look, especially this year when so many things seem to be a bit out of season.

And best of all you can stand at the window in the warm ,holding a mug of tea, looking out , planning and dreaming.

My mum is like you, her garden has kept her going through all this. She turning her attention to houseplants now she can’t get out as much, could you do that? Very trendy!

Thank you so much for all your answers. There was lots of thought and ideas there for me to get going. Also it made me feel somehow really warm that there are other people out there attached to their gardens like I am.

I used to find flowers and gardening really boring. And then suddenly I realised how amazing it is. I'm a total beginner though and have everything to learn. My garden is probably around half an acre. It's got some established flower areas but with me starting with my random planting of random plants it all looks a bit odd. There are also some very poorly fruit trees. The soil is clay and the field above seems to drain all the water through our land and it all just stands there. We have an acre's paddock that was meant to house a few little ponies. It's so wet though that I've had to give up on that dream. We have some lovely plans to start on after next summer. We're going to dig out a part of the garden to have a sunken rose garden with winding gravel paths and a swing seat at the end of it (I had so many childhood naps in swing seats amongst flower bushes or apple trees). Also a new patio, vegetable plot, pergola and a dining/bbq area and fire pit. So I could start planning all of that and drawing it. It's just the problem of where to start with it!!!

@RestorationInsanity Thanks for lots of great ideas. I could organise all the tools etc and I really do need to order some bulbs quickly. And hadn't thought that it would be a good idea to start buying seeds etc ready for the spring. This year really was my first attempt so have only got a vague idea of what did and didn't work. Also the gardens are a good idea. I have lots of lovely big ones I still haven't visited near me.

@MereDintofPandiculation we haven't really got many leaves to rake as they nicely fall into places where they are probably best left there. But you're right there's still mulching and pruning. My roses are almost all still flowering. And the Michaelmas daisies in front of my living room are a gorgeous sea of purple at the moment. And there are little surprises still appearing here and there.. Those random plants I have planted in random places..

@Bargebill19 I'm totally with you on the not enough gardening bin collection dates!! I have a hidden corner in the garden where I tip everythingthat doesn't fit in the garden bin.

@longtompot I couldn't even bring myself to watch the last episode. I felt too sad. And then a bit pathetic for feeling so sad. So turned over to autumn watch that felt much more exciting. At least it made me feel like exciting things carry on over the winter.

@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants thank you for sharing that. So beautiful. My home situation is very complex though and I suppose the garden has been my escapism. Winter makes us all stay in the same space and the relationship problems and mys depression are sitting there with us. But there will be cosy fires, blankets and books. And the children.

@Bluntness100 @ListeningQuietly there are loads of weeds everywhere. Maybe I should tackle them. I just always get to this point and think what's the point. But he beds would look a lot neater if I weeded them. There are a lot of tidying up jobs. And the new raised vegetable beds need building too.

@viques maybe I should brave myself to watch the last episode for winter garden inspiration. I'm dreaming of an orchard but it's a bit too wet unless we think of a better way to drain the field. There's an overgrown pond with a rip in a liner but I have no idea how to start again without disturbing the frogs, the toads and the newts. So the reeds have just totally taken over.

@RockStarMartini I'm like your mum in that aspect too. I've filled my house with houseplants. But there is only so much looking after they need. Not as labour intensive as gardening. It is therapeutic though!

I'm the same, OP, when gardener's world finishes for the season I feel bereft. Of course there is still work to do in the garden, but now I feel I'm on my own. When Monty gives out jobs for the weekend, I actually remember to go and do them! However there is still gardener's question time on radio 4.

It's just the problem of where to start with it!!! Start by doing a detailed measured plan of what you've got, with notes of sun and shade, wind and shelter, etc. That'll take longer than you think!

Do you have a greenhouse? If not, does your plan include one? That's a great place for the winter, not just pottering ut, if you put a comfy chair in there, and some scented spring bulbs, it's a lovely refuge, and gives you the illusion of being outside in the garden. There are some lovely sunny days in winter. It lifts the spirits.

@MereDintofPandiculation I love your post so much. My hyacinth bulbs are already poking up, and the camellia buds are getting fatter and fatter. I LOVE this time of year in the garden!

My garden has kept me focused this year. I’ve had more time to appreciate the changing seasons than I might usually do in it. Lockdown started just my Apple Tree started to bud, then get its blossom and then the apples started to grow and develop and now most of them have gone with the harvest. It’s marked the passage of this year nicely and in a way I don’t usually.

Have also had time to plan what changes I want to make next year and for the future.

I don't have much to add to the lovely posts that have already been made, except to say OP, there is a really good RHS book called "Gardening Through the Year" that you might like.

It's lovely because it has a section for each month, jobs to do in the garden, plants that are of interest at that time of year, planning ahead etc. And loads of pictures of plants for each month. So it shows really well how each month of the year is important in the garden, and what you can do at this time.

I got mine second hand quite cheaply (I think from Wordery/World of Books or similar) definitely recommend it!

I agree that the last Gardeners' World of the year is a sad moment but, as Dint says, there's always something to do. I've worked quite hard to ensure that I have something flowering pretty much every day of the year - the winter box is coming into flower now - and there are always little jobs to be done. I had a big splurge on tulip bulbs this year and am still planting those and finally, after years of procrastination, I've sent off my Felco secateurs for a proper service!

I've bought spring bulbs. I spend most of November and December buying my favourite seeds which I can sow from as early as late January. I keep some of my potatoes still in their pots which I harvest in late December (they are sheltered and I take some out on Christmas Eve for Christmas Day dinner) I plant violas in my front garden, in pots and baskets as they are winter hardy. And I look forward to seeing my Christmas Roses (Hellebores) which flower under the christmas tree I planted when DD was born. You can force Paper white Narcissi and other bulbs for Christmas. And depending where you are in the hemisphere, can still grow cut and come again leaves, cress, herbs etc.
It doesn't have to be bleak. Although as I'm typing this in the North East of England, it is hammering down.

I can still find loads to do. The heavy rain and awful wind are not helping though. I just get out and do something as soon as it’s dry.

Yesterday I turned the compost for it’s final time and I am looking forward to spreading it next year.
Yes to weeding, and if you have clay soil do some improvements to your soil. I’ve just put 24 sacks of manure on mine.

I also have lots of bulbs to plant, I’ve planted 500 tulips😊 now that’s going to be exciting.

I’d recommend reading this winter, build your gardening knowledge. It is sad, but the garden needs a rest and spring is not that far away.
I think gardens are all about hope and expectation, I love to see it all wake up and my favourite plants magically reappear.

@myotherface

I would suggest picking a bunch of your daisies or roses to display in a vase inside your home. I have vase of late roses in the hall and every time I pass through it lifts my spirits.

For future planning, have you thought about plants fuschias and dahlias which are both long flowering and last right to the first frosts?

My dahlias have not done well this year - too much slug damage early on - but I shall go outside later to pick the last bunch.