Winterizing an allotment garden, Digi Mart USA News: Anyone leaving an allotment garden unattended over the winter should prepare it thoroughly beforehand. A final inspection round can help prevent much of the damage caused by water and frost.
Shutting off the water supply is one of the most important tasks. According to myHOMEBOOK, water left in pipes can freeze and expand, which can damage pipes, connections and fittings.
After the main supply is turned off, all taps should be opened so the lines drain as completely as possible.
Garden hoses, showerheads and hose reels should also be emptied, then stored dry and protected from frost. Rain barrels should be empty before the first frost.
If there is space, they should be turned upside down and placed in a protected spot so new rainwater cannot collect. Watering cans, buckets and plant containers should also be emptied.
Residual water can remain in the toilet, cistern and siphon. The siphon is the curved section of the drain that normally holds water as a odor barrier.
The water supply to the cistern should be interrupted, then the toilet flushed once and remaining water removed. If the siphon cannot be fully emptied, only a winter antifreeze approved for sanitary installations and compatible with the sewage system is an option.
For a closed wastewater collection tank, the fill level should also be checked. It should not be pumped completely empty automatically, because depending on the construction and groundwater level, buoyancy may occur.
In the garden shed, electrical appliances should be disconnected from the power supply and appliances containing water should be drained. The refrigerator should be emptied, defrosted and cleaned, with the door left slightly open.
Food, animal feed and damp textiles should be removed. The roof and windows should be checked for leaks.
Garden furniture, cushions and sensitive items should be stored dry, and tools should be cleaned.
Finally, gutters should be cleared of leaves, loose objects secured, and the greenhouse and sensitive potted plants checked.
