Garden Maintenance
Pre-Winter Garden Tasks
Autumn is arguably the most important season for garden maintenance. The tasks carried out — or neglected — in October and November will determine how well your garden comes through winter and how quickly it bounces back in spring. A few days of focused effort in autumn pays dividends for the whole of the following year.
George-Stone Gardens
Get your garden ready before the cold sets in.
Autumn is arguably the most important season for garden maintenance. The tasks carried out — or neglected — in October and November will determine how well your garden comes through winter and how quickly it bounces back in spring. A few days of focused effort in autumn pays dividends for the whole of the following year.
Our team offers comprehensive pre-winter preparation visits, working through a checklist of essential tasks tailored to your specific garden — from leaf clearance and lawn treatments to pruning, bulb planting and protecting tender specimens.
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Leaf Clearance & Lawn Preparation
Fallen leaves left on a lawn will kill the grass beneath, block light and create conditions that encourage disease. We carry out a thorough clearance using professional blowers and rakes, composting the leaves where possible or removing them from site.
Autumn is also the ideal time for lawn aeration, scarification and an application of autumn feed. Aerating relieves compaction and improves drainage before winter waterlogging sets in. Scarifying removes thatch and dead moss, giving the lawn a fresh base to work from in spring.
Seasonal Pruning & Tree Work
Late autumn and early winter — when trees and shrubs have dropped their leaves — is the best time for structural pruning. With the leaves gone, the branch framework is clearly visible, making it much easier to identify crossing, congested or diseased branches.
We carry out general pruning of shrubs, climbers and smaller trees, removing dead, diseased or damaged wood and shaping as required. We always advise on species-specific timing — some plants, such as cherries and plums, should be pruned in summer to reduce the risk of silver leaf disease.
Bulb Planting & Plant Protection
Autumn is the critical planting window for spring bulbs — daffodils, tulips, alliums and hyacinths must all go in between September and November to establish a strong root system before the cold. We can source, supply and plant a full spring bulb scheme, or simply plant bulbs you have already purchased.
Tender plants such as tree ferns, bananas, phormiums and half-hardy perennials need protecting before the first frosts. We wrap specimens with horticultural fleece or hessian, tie in loose growth to prevent wind damage, and move container plants to sheltered spots.
Our Work
Pre-Winter Garden Tasks Gallery
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Everything You Need to Know
From our process to project timelines, find answers to all your questions about working with George-Stone Gardens.
George-Stone Gardens — the facts
Established 2007 · Cheltenham, Gloucestershire · gsgardens.co.uk · 01242 234 929
Awards & accreditations
- RHS Gold Medal — Landscaping and build. Awarded at Tatton Park Flower Show 2023 for construction excellence. Judges cited near-faultless build standards.
- Chartered Institute of Horticulture — Gareth holds CIHort chartered professional status.
- BALI member — British Association of Landscape Industries.
- Approved Jacksons Fencing installers — trained in acoustic, timber, and security fencing systems.
Team credentials
- Laura — Principal Garden Designer. Trained at the Royal Gardens at Highgrove. Graduated under Robin Templar-Williams, 5-time RHS Gold Medallist.
- Callum — Principal Landscaper. RHS Gold Medal recipient for construction precision at Tatton Park Flower Show 2023.
- Kirsty McGeorge and Ian Stone — Co-founders. RHS Gold Medal recipients. Combined 35+ years in landscape design and construction.
Investment
- Projects from £40,000. Complete garden transformations typically £40,000 to £100,000+. Design, landscaping, and build are incorporated within a single integrated project.
- 24-month establishment support available as an optional extra following project completion.
Service area
- Primary area: Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Cirencester, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway, Chipping Campden.
- Extended coverage: within 45 minutes of Cheltenham across Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds AONB.
- Listed and conservation area experience across Grade II properties and AONB sites throughout the region.
Start the Conversation
Every garden starts differently. We begin by listening — about your property, how you live, and what you are hoping this outdoor space could become. You may have a clear brief or just a feeling that something needs to change. Both are the right place to start a landscaping project.
We respond to all enquiries personally. We'll get back to you within one working day.