As the days get shorter and the temperature drops in the Thames Valley, the natural instinct is to draw the curtains and forget about the garden until the first daffodils appear.
However, ask any landscape gardener and they’ll let you into a little secret: Great summer gardens are built in the winter.
While it might sound counter-intuitive – if you wait until the sun is shining in April or May to contact a landscaper, you might not be enjoying your finished garden until late August. So to ensure your outdoor space is ready for that first barbecue of the summer season, the smart money is on starting now.
Here is our breakdown of why winter is actually the perfect time for planning your landscaping work.
1. Minimise the disruption
Let’s be honest: landscaping is a construction project. Whether we are laying limestone terraces in Beaconsfield or digging out a pool in Marlow, there will be mud, machinery and men in boots.
By scheduling the “hard landscaping” (the structural work) during the winter months, you keep the disruption confined to a time when you aren’t using the garden anyway. Instead you can watch your garden transform in front of your eyes from the warmth of your home, rather than having your summer relaxation interrupted by cement mixers.
2. Materials are more readily available
In the height of spring, the demand for quality landscaping materials skyrockets. Suppliers are often flat out and lead times for specific paving slabs or timber can stretch into weeks. During the winter, however, suppliers are quieter. This means we can source exactly what you need – whether it’s a specific Italian porcelain or ethically sourced sleepers -without the frustrating delays. You get the first pick of the stock rather than what’s left over.
3. The ground is softer
During the dry summer months, the clay soil common in our area can bake hard like concrete, making excavation slow and arduous. Conversely the ground in the Thames Valley is often easier to work with in winter. The autumn and winter rains soften the ground, allowing our machinery and teams to dig foundations, level terraces and shape your garden more efficiently. This often means the heavy groundworks can be completed faster than in a heatwave.
4. Perfect timing for planting
Plants, trees, shrubs and hedging all need time to settle. If you plant a garden in the height of summer, the plants are immediately stressed by the heat and require regular watering to survive.
By completing the construction in winter, the beds are ready for planting in early spring. This allows plants to establish their root systems in the cool, moist soil before the summer heat kicks in. The result is a garden that looks lush, established and healthy by the time you are ready to start using it.
5. Beat the “Spring Rush”
Come March, when the sun comes out and attention starts to turn towards the outdoors, our phone rings off the hook. The “Spring Rush” is real, and lead times for quality landscapers in the Thames Valley area can stretch out significantly.
By planning in autumn and building in winter, you can bypass the queue. You’ll often find that materials are more readily available, and your project can proceed without the pressure of the peak season.
6. Ready for the first ray of sun
The biggest benefit for any garden owner is simply enjoyment. The British summer can be unpredictable and fleeting. If your project starts in May, you run risk of missing the best weather of the year.
Instead, by scheduling the landscaping work for winter you won’t be looking out a muddy building site all summer. You’ll be taking advantage of the first warm bank holiday in May as you enjoy a coffee on your pristine new terrace, framed by blooming borders.
Don’t wait for the sun
If you are considering a garden transformation, don’t wait for the weather to turn. Let’s do the hard work now, so you can do the relaxing later.
Contact Thames Valley Landscapes today to discuss your garden project.
Or call us on: 01628 629720