Garden tips for selling your home in winter

• No one expects a winter garden to be blooming, but a splash of colour makes all the difference. Reliable winter favourites are pansies, cyclamen, violas and hellebores, sometimes referred to as Christmas roses or winter roses. Plant up a few containers for the patio for an instant lift.

• Tidy up borders and beds and relegate hosepipes, children’s paraphernalia and unsightly clothes lines to the shed.

• Lawns can get churned up in winter, so if you have a regular route over the grass, consider laying a few paving stones to avoid it becoming a muddy track. New turf can be laid anytime from mid-autumn to late winter, preferably when the soil is not too wet or frosted.

• Even all-weather garden furniture can look dreary if it’s left out during the winter months. If you usually store yours indoors, check the forecast when you know you’ve got a viewing and, if possible, bring the furniture back out to fill the empty space.

• Decking can be treacherous so scrub away any algae and then apply an anti-slip decking treatment.

• When it’s pouring with rain, the last thing you want is your potential buyer getting soaked before they’ve reached the front door. Keep your driveway clear so they can park just outside, and if you have a garage make sure your cars are stowed away so the parking area doesn’t look crowded.

• Viewings may not be in daylight so think about how your garden looks in the dark. Invest in some garden lighting so potential buyers can get a good impression and imagine themselves on a summer’s evening enjoying the garden. If you already have this in place, check that none of the bulbs need replacing.

• Fairy lights aren’t just for Christmas - thread some through trees or shrubbery for a warm welcome up the drive.

Do you have a favourite plant for winter colour? We’d love to know. Get in touch via our social channels or for Michael Graham town and country properties browse our website.