Winter on the allotment might seem peaceful, but just think about it; no frantic planting, no endless weeding, just a quiet, frosty plot waiting for spring. But beneath the calm, chaos is brewing, no, really, it is! It’s hard to think about this summer oasis becoming a complete disaster in winter, right?
Mice are eyeing your shed as their winter retreat, yes, that lovely shed you picked out just might be holding some mice (and to make matters worse you might even be in some debt due to buying the shed considering how pricey they are). But on top of that, moisture is turning tools into rust buckets, and mould is creeping in (usually this happens).
While all of this is terrible, winter doesn’t have to be a disaster for your allotment, though. As generic as it might sound, it just takes some preparation, and you don’t have to worry about spending extra money, getting stressed, or, well, anything else for that matter! But there are some things you need to know in order to prevent the worst-case scenarios from happening over winter.
Stop Mice from Moving into Your Shed
For mice, winter is a prime real estate-hunting season, and your allotment shed is perfect. So, think about it, there are the dark corners, maybe some seed packets, and maybe even the odd snack scrap, well, it’s their dream. Sometimes it’s bugs are well, not just mice. Yes, it just happens, but you can still prepare (and hopefully prevent all of this). For starters, you need to go ahead and seal any gaps or cracks in your shed to block entry points. Mice are basically little escape artists who can squeeze through the smallest spaces, so get serious about those nooks and crannies.
But this isn’t going to be the only thing either of course, because you’re going to have to invest in heavy-duty, rodent-proof containers for anything edible. Most folks tend to have seeds lying in a box in their shed, or something along the lines of that.
But seed packets (or large bags of seeds and tubers), in particular, should be stored in secure options like farming storage supplies, ideally, something made of hard plastic (but steel works too), which can keep your hard-earned stash safe from hungry teeth. You have to get strict about this. It’s also a good idea to clear any tempting snacks lying around. Yes, this is such a big deal because even fallen fruit or scraps from your compost bin can attract unwanted furry visitors.
Don’t Let Moisture Ruin Everything
Winter’s dampness can be relentless, and your allotment feels it. Now, this is mostly going to pertain to your shed (and sometimes the frame of your beds as well). So, sheds turn into steamy mould factories, and tools left to fend for themselves will rust fairly quickly.
So, you’ll need ventilation (something a lot of people tend to not know about). So, a shed that breathes is a shed that won’t turn your tools into a science experiment. But be sure to check for any leaks while you’re at it, because nobody wants to deal with a soggy shed floor.
Protect Your Structures from Winter’s Wrath
It was briefly mentioned above due to mould, but that’s not going to be the only issue. Actually, winter is no friend to raised beds, trellises, or fences. Rain, frost, and icy winds can turn sturdy wood into something that looks like it was shipwrecked.
So, you’ll need to check for cracks, wobbling, or signs of rot before the worst weather hits. For the most part, something like a quick coat of wood treatment can make a big difference in how these structures hold up.