How to prepare your Irish garden for winter: a Dublin checklist

Winter in Dublin is usually more about rain and wind than hard frost. That means the main threats to your garden are waterlogged lawns, slippery paths and storm damage, rather than plants freezing. A bit of work in autumn heads most of it off.

Clear the leaves

Wet leaves left on a lawn block light and encourage moss and bare patches. On paths and steps they get slippery. Rake them off regularly through October and November. Shredded leaves make good mulch or leaf mould if you have space for a pile.

Give the lawn its last cuts

Grass keeps growing slowly in mild spells. Raise the mower blades for the last few cuts of the year, and avoid cutting when the lawn is waterlogged or frosty. Our lawn care service covers the end-of-season cuts if you'd rather not.

Check your trees before the storms

Autumn storms are when weak branches come down. Once the leaves drop, look up at any large trees near the house, cars, sheds or neighbours' gardens. Dead branches, splits, hanging limbs, or a tree that's started to lean are all worth having looked at. Late autumn and winter, while trees are dormant, is a good time for pruning and crown reduction on many species.

If a tree is near overhead power lines, keep well clear and contact ESB Networks.

Get big hedge jobs booked

September to February is the right window for reducing overgrown hedges and removing hedges you no longer want. See our guide on the best time to cut hedges in Ireland.

Tidy beds and borders

• Cut back perennials that have collapsed, but leave seed heads that look good or feed birds.
• Weed before winter so you're not starting spring with a bigger job.
• Move tender pots against a sheltered wall.
• Mulch beds to protect soil from heavy rain.

Paths, patios and drainage

Clear moss and algae from paths and steps, and check that drains and gullies aren't blocked with leaves. Standing water in the same spot every winter usually points to a drainage problem worth fixing in spring.

Short on time? We do seasonal tidy-ups, hedge cutting and tree work across Dublin, Kildare and Meath. Ask for a quote.