How to Prepare Your Garden for Winter: Complete Guide
As autumn arrives, it is time to start preparing your garden for winter. Taking the right steps at the right time protects your plants' health and helps you enjoy a beautiful garden in spring with far less effort. Drawing on 18 years of landscaping experience, this guide covers everything you need to know about winter garden care.
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Chief Landscape Architect
Emre Yılmaz
As autumn arrives, it is time to start preparing your garden for winter. Taking the right steps at the right time protects your plants' health and helps you enjoy a beautiful garden in spring with far less effort. Drawing on 18 years of landscaping experience, this guide covers everything you need to know about winter garden care.
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Chief Landscape Architect
Burak Aksoy
Emre Yılmaz
Pool maintenance may sound complicated, but with the right habits and basic knowledge, enjoying a trouble-free pool is entirely possible. We share the most common mistakes we have seen in more than a decade of pool maintenance experience, along with their solutions.
Mistake 1: Inconsistent Water Chemistry Testing
The most common mistake is checking water chemistry only when the water turns cloudy instead of testing it weekly. Water chemistry changes constantly with sunlight, rainfall, usage, and temperature. Regular weekly testing is essential.
Keep pH between 7.2 and 7.6
Free chlorine: 1.0–3.0 ppm
Alkalinity: 80–120 ppm
Calcium hardness: 200–400 ppm
Running the filter for only 4–5 hours a day to save energy seriously reduces water quality. In summer it should run at least 8–10 hours a day, and up to 12 hours in hot weather. The filter should circulate the entire pool volume at least once per day.
Mistake 2: Not Running the Filter Long Enough
Mistake 3: Neglecting Shock Chlorination
Shock chlorination (superchlorination) should always be carried out after heavy use or rainy weather. It prevents algae and bacterial buildup.
Keep pH between 7.2 and 7.6
Free chlorine: 1.0–3.0 ppm
Alkalinity: 80–120 ppm
Calcium hardness: 200–400 ppm
When pH falls below 7.2, the water becomes acidic, irritates the eyes, and corrodes equipment. Above 7.8, chlorine becomes less effective and algae blooms can begin. pH control determines the effectiveness of all other chemicals.
Mistake 4: Ignoring pH
Mistake 5: Skipping Winter Maintenance
Completely neglecting an unused pool during winter can cause major problems in spring. Monthly checks, monitoring the water level, and adding winter chemicals are required throughout the season.
Mistake 6: Neglecting the Pool Surround
Algae and dirt buildup on pool coping, drainage channels, and around skimmers creates both aesthetic and safety issues. Weekly brushing and a deep clean twice a year are recommended.
Keep pH between 7.2 and 7.6
Free chlorine: 1.0–3.0 ppm
Alkalinity: 80–120 ppm
Calcium hardness: 200–400 ppm
If pump sounds change or filter pressure is significantly above or below normal, professional intervention is essential. Early action prevents major repair costs.
Mistake 7: Delaying Professional Maintenance
7 Critical Pool Maintenance Mistakes and Their Solutions
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1. Winter Preparation for Lawn Areas
Make the final mow before winter at a height of 5–6 cm. Do not cut too short, which leaves the lawn vulnerable to frost, or leave it too long, which encourages fungal disease. Applying autumn lawn fertilizer in October–November strengthens the root system and promotes earlier greening in spring.
Make the final cut at a height of 5–6 cm
Apply autumn lawn fertilizer (N-P-K: 5-10-20)
Aerate the lawn
Remove weeds
Collect leaves regularly – this prevents the lawn from being smothered
2. Protecting Plants from Cold
Tropical and subtropical plants such as bougainvillea, hamelia, and frangipani generally cope well with Antalya's mild winters, but protection is essential during sudden frost events. Before winter, apply a 5–8 cm layer of mulch to all flower beds.
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Professionals' Secret to Villa Garden Design
1. Winter Preparation for Lawn Areas
Make the final mow before winter at a height of 5–6 cm. Do not cut too short, which leaves the lawn vulnerable to frost, or leave it too long, which encourages fungal disease. Applying autumn lawn fertilizer in October–November strengthens the root system and promotes earlier greening in spring.
Keep pH between 7.2 and 7.6
Free chlorine: 1.0–3.0 ppm
Alkalinity: 80–120 ppm
Calcium hardness: 200–400 ppm
2. Protecting Plants from Cold
Tropical and subtropical plants such as bougainvillea, hamelia, and frangipani generally cope well with Antalya's mild winters, but protection is essential during sudden frost events. Before winter, apply a 5–8 cm layer of mulch to all flower beds.
Other Articles
7 Critical Pool Maintenance Mistakes and Their Solutions
Best Landscaping Plants for Antalya's Climate: A Complete Guide
Professionals' Secret to Villa Garden Design
Make the final cut at a height of 5–6 cm
Apply autumn lawn fertilizer (N-P-K: 5-10-20)
Aerate the lawn
Remove weeds
Collect leaves regularly – this prevents the lawn from being smothered
Smart Irrigation Controllers
Modern smart irrigation controllers monitor weather data and automatically skip watering after rainfall. Combined with soil moisture sensors, they operate according to the plants' actual water needs. These systems can provide an additional 20–30% water saving.
How Does the Installation Process Work?
The most common mistake is checking water chemistry only when the water turns cloudy instead of testing it weekly. Water chemistry changes constantly with sunlight, rainfall, usage, and temperature. Regular weekly testing is essential.
A garden plan is prepared and irrigation zones are defined
Water pressure and flow rate are measured
The system design and materials list are prepared
Pipework is installed, usually in one day
Sprinkler heads and the control unit are installed
Programming and testing are completed
The user is trained on the system
Gazania: Sun-loving, drought-tolerant yellow-orange ground cover
Ajuga: Excellent in shade, with purple flowers and purple foliage
Delosperma (Ice Plant): Succulent foliage and almost no irrigation needs
Rosmarinus (Rosemary): Ground-cover type; both decorative and aromatic
Olive tree: Timeless beauty, lives for centuries, high value
Jacaranda: A spectacular purple bloom in April–May; requires light winter protection
Phoenix Palm: An iconic Antalya plant with low maintenance needs
Citrus (Orange/Lemon): Both decorative and productive, with a beautiful fragrance
Washingtonia palm: Fast-growing with a striking appearance
Preparing your automatic irrigation system for winter is critical to extending the life of the equipment. Water left in pipes can freeze, expand, and cause serious damage.
3. Preparing the Irrigation System for Winter
Water conservation is becoming increasingly important. Gardens created with xerophytic, drought-tolerant plants are both environmentally friendly and economical to maintain.
Water-Efficient Landscaping: Xerophytic Plants
Mistake 4: Ignoring pH
When pH falls below 7.2, the water becomes acidic, irritates the eyes, and corrodes equipment. Above 7.8, chlorine becomes less effective and algae blooms can begin. pH control determines the effectiveness of all other chemicals.
Mistake 5: Skipping Winter Maintenance
Completely neglecting an unused pool during winter can cause major problems in spring. Monthly checks, monitoring the water level, and adding winter chemicals are required throughout the season.
Algae and dirt buildup on pool coping, drainage channels, and around skimmers creates both aesthetic and safety issues. Weekly brushing and a deep clean twice a year are recommended.
Mistake 6: Neglecting the Pool Surround
If pump sounds change or filter pressure is significantly above or below normal, professional intervention is essential. Early action prevents major repair costs.
Mistake 7: Delaying Professional Maintenance
Shut the system down completely and turn off the water supply
Open the main drain valves and drain the water
Blow out the pipework with compressed air
Set the control unit to winter mode or unplug it
Remove surface sprinkler heads
4. Pruning: When and How?
Winter pruning is not suitable for every plant. Deciduous trees and shrubs can be pruned after they have shed their leaves, generally between December and February. For roses, January and February are the ideal pruning months in our region.
Cut dry, diseased, and crossing or rubbing branches
Disinfect cutting tools (with alcohol or bleach)
Apply tree wound paste to large cuts
Leave flowering shrubs such as crape myrtle for winter pruning
Empty the fuel from lawn mowers, trimmers, and other motorized equipment or add a fuel stabilizer. Oil metal tools to prevent rust and store them in a dry place. Move hoses to an area where they will not be exposed to freezing temperatures.
5. Winter Maintenance for Garden Equipment
3. Preparing the Irrigation System for Winter
Preparing your automatic irrigation system for winter is critical to extending the life of the equipment. Water left in pipes can freeze, expand, and cause serious damage.
Shut the system down completely and turn off the water supply
Open the main drain valves and drain the water
Blow out the pipework with compressed air
Set the control unit to winter mode or unplug it
Remove surface sprinkler heads
4. Pruning: When and How?
Winter pruning is not suitable for every plant. Deciduous trees and shrubs can be pruned after they have shed their leaves, generally between December and February. For roses, January and February are the ideal pruning months in our region.
Cut dry, diseased, and crossing or rubbing branches
Disinfect cutting tools (with alcohol or bleach)
Apply tree wound paste to large cuts
Leave flowering shrubs such as crape myrtle for winter pruning
5. Winter Maintenance for Garden Equipment
Empty the fuel from lawn mowers, trimmers, and other motorized equipment or add a fuel stabilizer. Oil metal tools to prevent rust and store them in a dry place. Move hoses to an area where they will not be exposed to freezing temperatures.
Cut dry, diseased, and crossing or rubbing branches
Disinfect cutting tools (with alcohol or bleach)
Apply tree wound paste to large cuts
Leave flowering shrubs such as crape myrtle for winter pruning
Bahçemix
Adding value to every square meter.
Turning dreams into reality with professional landscape design and pool maintenance services since 2007.
SERVICES
Landscape Design
Pool Design & Installation
Pool Maintenance
Garden Maintenance
Irrigation Systems
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+90 (546) 818 72 50
Mon–Fri: 08:00–18:00
Privacy Policy Terms of Use Cookie Policy
© 2025 Bahçemix. All rights reserved.
Bahçemix
Adding value to every square meter.
Turning dreams into reality with professional landscape design and pool maintenance services since 2006.
SERVICES
Landscape Design
Pool Design & Installation
Pool Maintenance
Garden Maintenance
Irrigation Systems
Outdoor Lighting
CORPORATE
About Us
Our Projects
References
Blog & Tips
Contact
CONTACT
+90 (546) 818 72 50
Mon–Fri: 08:00–18:00
Privacy Policy Terms of Use Cookie Policy
© 2025 Bahçemix. All rights reserved.