23.05.2023
Now is the time to prepare the garden for winter. At GARDENA, we believe this should be done in harmony with the natural flow of things and with minimal impact on the cute, little critters that have a home in your garden.
What to do with the leaves?
Leaves should be removed from sidewalks, driveways, patios and steps. Dead leaves, wet or dry, can create a slippery surface andpose a safety hazard. Leaves should also not be left to accumulate on the lawn. A thick layer of leaves can block sunlight and cause your lawn to turn yellow, or the layer can trap moisture and cause the lawn to rot.
The GARDENA Leaf & Grass Collector is the most convenient tool for clearing almost any ground surface. The Collector is non-motorised, employingspecially shaped bristles made from high-quality plastic to catch and collect the leaves into a large collection bag. It’squiet, clean and efficient.
Alternatively, gardeners can choose from the GARDENA range of Spring-Wire, Fan or Plastic Rakes to clear their lawns. GARDENA rake heads come in various shapes and sizes that can be attached and swopped out on any of theGARDENA combisystemHandles.The width between the individual steel prongs or plastic tines can be adjusted to rake finer or coarser material. Rakes are most friendly to little garden helpers such as earthworms, beetles and spiders that live amongst leaf litter.
Everywhere else, leaves can be left with a clear conscience. Dead leaves return organic material and nutrients to the soil in your flower beds. Here, the layer they form can suppress weeds and help to maintain the moisture and temperature of the soil. You can add the leaves collected from your lawn to heaps in your flower beds to bolster yourmulch layer and create a shelter for ladybugs, earthworms and toads.
Give the lawn its final trim of the year
Though many regions in South Africa never see frost, it’s a common winter occurrence in others. Ideally, the last cut of the lawn should be done before the first frost. The cutting height should be between four and five centimetres. If the blades are cut too short, they cannot protect the root area from frost.
For smaller lawns up to 50m2, we recommend the compact Battery Lawnmower HandyMower 22/18V P4A. For larger lawns up to 450m2, the PowerMax Li-40/41 is more appropriate. Gardeners who want to get some exercise in and prefer a quieter optioncan use the Hand Cylinder Lawnmower Classic 400. It’s easy to push along and takes up little space in storage.
Grass cuttings should also be removed from the lawn and added to the leaf layers and piles in your flower bedsfor mulching.
Sit back and relax
After covering the right places with a leafy blanket, your garden can snugly enter its winter rest. Enjoy your neatly prepped garden as it moves through its winter transformation with a warm cuppa on the patio or through the window under your own cosy blanket.
GARDENA Leaf & Grass Collector
GARDENA Spring-Wire Rakes
GARDENA Plastic Rakes
About GARDENA
For over 50 years GARDENA has provided everything passionate gardeners need. The broad assortment of products offers innovative solutions and systems for watering, lawn care, tree and shrub care and soil cultivation. Today, GARDENA is a leading European supplier of high-quality gardening tools and distributed in more than 100 countries worldwide. GARDENA is a brand of Husqvarna Group. Further information on gardena.com.