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Weeding over winter, or not?

Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
in Wildlife gardening
I don't weed from now until spring. I feel that everything rotting down adds a natural mulch, and also leaves food for insects and other animals. I'll top dress with manure in late winter.
Do others weed or not over winter?
Sunny Dundee
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Posts

  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    If I'm in the mood and see weeds I will pull them out if I see dead plants I will more than likely leave them until spring.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Winter is the time I do the weeding,  I can’t get between plants safely until they’ve died down.  Dandelions, buttercups and couch grass don’t die down in the winter here. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    If I'm in the mood, it's a reasonably warm day, the grass is dry and the clay is soft, I might do a little 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I'm usually a 365 day gardener, there is always a lot to do in winter. This year however, I expect/hope to be out of action.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited October 2023
    I probably hoe more than I weed in the winter … if I’ve done things properly over the summer and autumn (obviously I’ve not managed that this year due to life and death events) then most of the weeds in my garden over winter will be seedlings … far easier to deal with on a dry day with a Joe (flamin auto thingummy … I meant  hoe of course 🙄)
    and a rake, rather than a hands and knees job. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I like to get out in the garden in the winter, weeding, cutting back perennials that have fallen over and/or turned into a mushy mess (that job gets done gradually as things fall over, not all at once), mulching if/when there's a clear area, occasionally a high cut with the mower if it's been mild and the grass has grown, usually at least one turn of the compost bin during the wintertime, some pruning once we get to the back end of winter/early spring, February or so.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I could do with a Joe too @Dovefromabove
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    B3 said:
    I could do with a Joe too @Dovefromabove
    Grrr thank @B3 🤗 😂 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    In my county of birth (Rutland), hands would be upflung in horror if you set foot on the garden to weed in the winter, because it’s heavy clay. My elderly aunt was always horrified when I told her that I weed over the winter where we are now. I think, if you can be bothered, it stops the weeds stealing a march on you in early spring, before you’ve even noticed that they’ve got started. It’s amazing how quickly they will grow and even set seed if they see even a glimpse of warm sun early in the year. 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    What goes around comes around. I didn't expect to get my own back quite so soon! @Dovefromabove
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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