As autumn turns to winter, many of us pack up our gardening tools and head inside to stay warm. But there's one thing to do first: create a compost heap to help local wildlife hibernate safely.
Our beautiful plants might be showing signs of dormancy, but Homebase's new G-Waste campaign is encouraging households to continue looking after their outdoor spaces as the temperatures plummet. Winter is a hard time of year for wildlife, but there are heaps of ways we can help them through the toughest of seasons.
According to their research, almost three quarters of people understand the importance of getting their garden ready for winter and its benefits to biodiversity, while 40% of Brits don't feel confident with gardening.
"It's really easy to turn your outdoor space, no matter how big or small, into a space for wildlife and biodiversity to thrive," say Homebase. "We recently carried out some research that revealed over 70% of those surveyed want to broaden their knowledge and do more, especially for biodiversity."
Not sure how to compost like a pro? Take a look at Homebase's tips below:
1. First, pick up a container box for your compost. Whether you have a small garden or a large sprawling space, there are lots of styles available to suit everyone.
2. "Once you've picked your container, it's time to start filling it with green and brown waste. You should build these up in layers and aim to have an equal amount of wet and dry waste at any given time," say Homebase.
"To help with the process, cut down on larger items like branches and twigs so that they can breakdown more easily. For those with more space and more waste to deal with, it's best to use a garden shredder. Aim for about half of the items you're adding to be soft green waste to stop the compost getting too dry."
3. While the weather turns in the winter months, try to place your compost box in a sunny position. "To help with the decomposition process, you should turn your compost regularly – use something like a garden fork to move around your compost every few weeks."
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17 best gardening tools to buy now including spades, trowels and rakes
Give your garden plants some love this summer with this useful multi-tool. Finished in titanium with brass fixings, this tool features six different functions including secateurs, a root remover, knife, saw, bottle opener and an easy weeding utensil.
Protect your knees when gardening with this practical green kneeler and seat. It has been made with steel tubes and comfortable polypropylene foam so you can garden comfortably. There's also a small pouch on the side, making it easy to pop your tools in as you work.
Protect your hands with these practical grey gardening gloves, made from a comfortable nylon and spandex liner. Best suited for potting and pruning, they have breathable lining and a nitrile grip coating.
Developed alongside Kew Garden's horticultural team, this set features a weedfork, hand trowel and transplanting trowel. Ideal if you're on the hunt for a gift.
Crafted from wood and stainless steel, this lovely garden tool set is just what every gardener needs. The leather hooks make it easy to hang up in a shed, while the trowel has been marked in centimetres and inches to make planting easier than ever.
Every garden needs a wheelbarrow. In a classic green, this lightweight style from Argos is ideal for gardening, DIY work and equestrian uses.
With a longer handle to ease back strain, this stainless digging spade has been created for all digging jobs. As well as this, the hardened steel blade is rust-resistant and will hold its edge without regular sharpening. Perfect for every avid gardener.
Keep your plants happy and healthy with this terracotta watering can. Designed by Shane Schneck, it boasts a no-spill lip and a shape that keeps water weight at its base.
Tried and tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute, this garden fork from Sophie Conran is a stylish addition to any outdoor space. Made of stainless steel with a waxed beechwood handle, it has sharpened tines which cut through hard and soft soil very easily.
When life gives you lemons...buy a stylish kneeler pillow. With a generous size and soft foam filling, you can be sure to tackle those weeds comfortably without any pain.
Looking for some summer seeds? This pack includes thyme, mixed herbs, oregano and summer savoury, too. Ideal to spruce up a tired-looking lawn patch.
READ MORE: Plant these 11 wildflowers to create a bee motorway in your garden
You'll find eight handy tools in this set, including pruning shears, a hand trowel, transplanter, weeder, cultivator, hand rake, gardening gloves and a tote bag. At just £40, it's a real steal buy.
Trim your hedge just as you like with these 66cm topiary shears. Ideal for trimming and shaping, they have narrow pointed blades, rubber shock absorbers and a long length ergonomic design.
READ MORE: How to get rid of moles in the garden
Providing high performance cutting with a clean finish, this grass trimmer from Bosch has an easy edging function which enables quick changes from trimming to edging. Ideal for reaching those tricker spots with ease.
Sweep up leaves and fallen debris with this practical wooden rake from Garden Trading. Crafted from Beech, the strong wooden handle offers support, while the prongs allow for effective raking.
Presented in a beautiful box, this set includes a trowel and secateurs. Featuring artwork from the RHS Lindley Library, they're both a stylish and practical addition to any garden.
This electric lawnmower helps you to cut through long grass with ease, thanks to its innovative inset grass combs and lightweight design.
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Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
