Why Summer Is the Best Time to Prepare Your Garden for Winter

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With summer well and truly here, winter is probably the last thing on anyone's mind. The garden is looking its best, flowers are in bloom, and we are all making the most of spending time outdoors.

But believe it or not, summer is actually the perfect time to start thinking ahead.

Preparing your garden for winter isn't about rushing outside with fleece and frost covers just yet. Instead, it's about making small decisions now that will help your garden stay healthier through the colder months and make spring that little bit easier.

Give Your Lawn Some Attention

A healthy lawn going into autumn has a much better chance of coping with wet weather, frost, and reduced daylight. Keeping on top of mowing, watering during dry spells, and feeding the grass if needed can all make a big difference later in the year.

Tidy Up as You Go

Rather than leaving everything until autumn, remove spent flowers, keep weeds under control, and trim back plants that have finished flowering. Regular maintenance throughout the summer prevents the garden becoming overwhelming when the weather starts to turn.

Think About Trees and Hedges

Late summer is a good opportunity to check the condition of hedges and trees. Removing damaged or unhealthy growth now can reduce the risk of problems during winter storms, while keeping everything looking neat.

Check Drainage

Heavy winter rain can quickly expose drainage issues. If you've noticed puddles forming after recent showers, now is a great time to investigate before the wetter months arrive. Good drainage helps protect both your lawn and planting beds.

Plan Any Landscaping Projects

If you're thinking about a new patio, fresh borders, raised beds, or replacing fencing, now is the ideal time to start planning. Booking work before the autumn rush often means your garden is ready to enjoy as soon as spring arrives.

A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way

You don't need to spend every sunny weekend preparing for winter. Simply keeping up with regular maintenance and thinking ahead can save time, money, and effort later in the year.

Enjoy the sunshine while it's here—but remember, a little planning now will help your garden stay healthy, tidy, and ready to thrive when the seasons change.

Smart Watering for Hot Summer Gardens

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With much of the UK experiencing increasingly hot, dry summers and periods of extreme heat, ensuring your garden receives the right amount of water has never been more important.

A healthy, vibrant garden starts with one simple thing: the right amount of water at the right time. An irrigation system takes the guesswork out of watering, delivering water precisely where it's needed to help lawns stay greener, plants grow stronger, and ensuring gardens remain resilient throughout the season. It can also reduce water waste, improve efficiency, and save you valuable time, even during the hottest weather.

Introducing Our Irrigation Install & Maintenance Package

At Charles Hoare Landscape & Garden Services Ltd., we are pleased to offer a complete irrigation solution to keep your garden performing at its best.

Our package includes:

• Professional irrigation system installation
• Seasonal system checks and adjustments
• Sprinkler and nozzle maintenance
• Leak detection and repairs
• Controller and timer programming

Regular maintenance helps ensure your system continues to run efficiently, protecting both your garden and your investment.

Whether you're looking to install a new irrigation system or maintain an existing one, our experienced team is here to help.

Get in touch today to learn more about our Irrigation Install & Maintenance Package and discover how smarter watering can make all the difference.

Helping Our Gardeners Do Their Best Work

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Behind every flourishing garden is a team of skilled horticulturists dedicated to nurturing it through the seasons. From meticulous pruning and planting to the finer details that often go unnoticed, our Maintenance Team approaches every visit with care, expertise and pride.

To ensure they can work safely, efficiently and to the highest possible standards, there are just a few simple ways clients can help.

A Little Notice Goes a Long Way

Our gardeners' schedules are carefully planned to ensure every garden receives the time and attention it deserves. While we understand that plans can sometimes change unexpectedly, we kindly ask for at least 48 hours' notice should you need to rearrange a maintenance visit.

Appointments cancelled within this period, or visits where access to the property is unavailable, may incur the full service charge.

Creating the Best Working Environment

Many of the gardens we care for are shared with beloved family pets. Before a scheduled visit, we simply ask that lawns and working areas are checked and cleared of pet waste.

This helps provide a safe and pleasant environment for our team, allowing them to focus their attention where it belongs: caring for your garden and ensuring it looks its very best throughout the year.

After all, great gardens are a collaborative effort, and the small considerations often make the biggest difference.

Welcome Judy!

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Where does the time go? … we are delighted to introduce our newest member of the garden maintenance team, Judy.

Judy joined in September 2024 and jumped into her role at Charles Hoare with incredible enthusiasm, always with a smile on her face!

Having spent decades working in marketing for companies including Citizens Advice West Oxfordshire and Pearson Education, Judy turned back to her passion for gardening. It came as no surprise to her Irish family, who boast a long line of horticulturalists. She completed her RHS practical level 2 and joined us shortly thereafter.

Judy is incredibly passionate about taking a sustainable approach to gardening and when she is not found in a flowerbed, she enjoys feeding local wild birds, walking her dog, doing yoga and watching rugby.

Tulips!

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Now is the time to start planning for a colourful and bountiful spring! Tulips are a fabulous addition to any bed, formal or informal and pack a welcome punch huddled in pots. They can also be naturalised in grass.

The general rule (given there is diversity in variety and size) is aim for full sun, sheltered from strong wind. Incorporate organic matter into the soil (they ideally like neutral to alkaline if you’re being pernickety). Plant the bulb at least 2-3 times the depth and twice the width apart.

Whilst bulbs may not need (and indeed our team often wait until Nov/Dec to plant tulips due to the risk of ‘tulip fire’) to be planted immediately, the demand is high.

Here is the big news - we have had several reports from our suppliers that this year, there is a shortage of tulip bulbs so we urge you if you do nothing else in your garden this weekend - order those bulbs to avoid disappointment! You will be so grateful when they punch through the soil - after another long winter!

A slug affair

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Our maintenance team here at Charles Hoare are all too aware that snails and slugs are a gardener’s nemesis but the truth is that they have every right to roam our gardens and we have to somehow learn to live in harmony with them.

Slugs and snails are important food for numerous birds, mammals, worms and insects - a vital part of the natural balance of a garden. The issue is that they also love to eat fresh young leaves of plants we have lovingly nurtured. They come in droves. Managing them so your garden isn’t obliterated is a delicate balance and there are various tips and tricks to try to live in harmony with them..

1. Keep young plants in pots/greenhouse for longer until they are stronger to withstand a little munch. Young leaves are the tastiest.

2. Grit, coffee granules, crushed egg shell or fire ash. They don’t like clambering over rough surfaces. If using crushed eggshell, bake for 5 minutes so they are extra sharp.

3. Sacrificial planting. Have some nasturtiums, kale or lettuce near your favourite plants. The slugs might deviate to those and leave your tender plant babies alone.

4. Beer traps. They love the aroma of beer and although you are killing them, there are worse ways to meet your fate. Then throw them on the lawn for the birds.

5. Nematodes can be bought online or in garden centers and are biological control with no adverse effect on the environment. Again leaving them to other critters to eat.

6. Encourage blackbirds, thrush, frogs, hedgehogs and beetles to do the hard work for you. Make a mini pond or put sunflower seeds and mealworm out and these creatures will come flocking.

7. Grow your favourite ornamentals in pots with copper tape around the edge.. to make access more difficult. Slugs and snails don’t like copper.

It can feel like a futile effort against this much maligned garden ‘pest’. But isn’t this half the beauty of gardening?… constantly battling and playing a dance with and around all the crazy natural elements that make up the gorgeous habitats on your doorstep.

Easy way to look after your soil

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A really easy and fantastic way of getting some quality, effortless, free mulch for next year is to collect your fallen leaves to make leafmould.

1. Gather leaves from your own garden or public places. They are easier to collect when the weather is dry and still. Mowing them up is the best option because grass clippings add nutrients to the mulch and shredding the leaves hastens the rotting process.

2. Grab a black bin liner, stuff the leaves in, pierce some holes and add a little water if they aren’t already moist.

3. Stack the bin bags at the back of a shed and leave for a year or two.... et voila!

Tulip Time

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Seasonal gardening tips from Head Gardener, Rosie…

The time has come to plant your tulip bulbs. The next few weeks are perfect as the colder weather starts to creep in, the soil is still maleable and risk of ‘tulip fire’ has diminished.

Tulips are a fabulous addition to any bed, formal or informal and pack a welcome punch huddled in pots. They can also be naturalised in grass.

The general rule (given there is diversity in variety and size) is aim for full sun, sheltered from strong wind. Incorporate organic matter into the soil (they ideally like neutral to alkaline if you’re being pernickety). Plant the bulb at least 2-3 times the depth and twice the width apart.

Most bedding bulbs will need to be replaced every year for maximum impact. So get to your local nursery or search online and get planning and planting - future you will be SO grateful in the Spring!

A big thank you!

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Fi and bobbie

It has been a busy year here at Charles Hoare and we have a lot things to be proud of, one of which is our amazing Gardener, Fiona.

Fi joined us in July 2022, immediately immersing herself in some of our biggest and most complex gardens. Her work ethic is phenomenal. That, coupled with a deep passion and breadth of knowledge in horticulture, makes her a huge asset to the team. Thank you Fi, it is excellent to have you on board!

Introducing...

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Rosie Willcock, Head Gardener

Rosie Willcock, Head Gardener

…Rosie, the Head Gardener at Charles Hoare Landscape & Garden Services Ltd. She joined at the beginning of this year with a wealth of passion, knowledge and enthusiasm about gardening and nature. 

Our Maintenance team pride themselves on taking all our clients varying horticultural requests and executing them with professionalism, punctuality and passion. There isn't a job too small or complicated we won't consider and we are fundamentally reliable.

Your garden, is our garden. We will not disappoint!

Get in touch to find out how we can help you in your garden.

Approved Installer for Jacksons Fencing

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Jacksons fencing

We are proud to be an Approved Installer for Jacksons Fencing, a family run business since 1947.

One of the reasons we like them? Their quality product… they use premium timber that not only enables them to offer an unrivalled 25-year guarantee, but it is also fast-growing, which benefits the environment with a low carbon footprint.

Do get in touch with Charles to discuss all your fencing needs.