How climate impacts your garden: Essential tips for every season

As we start to notice how the climate affects our daily lives more and more gardeners are thinking about how the changing seasons influence their gardens. A garden does better when a person learns to deal with the weather and makes adjustments based on it. Dealing with surprise cold snaps and extended dry spells can really change things if you know how to handle them. Check out these important tips for each season to help your garden do well all year long.

Getting ready and keeping safe

The cold of winter can make things tough but it also gives you a chance to get ready for what’s ahead. A lot of gardeners think winter is a break but there is still a lot to keep busy with. Start by wrapping your plants up to keep them warm. You can cover the soil and roots with straw leaves or special frost cloths to keep them safe from the cold. You might want to try cold frames or cloches for your delicate perennials and veggies.

Winter is a great season for making plans. Take this time to look into different ways to plant and pick out seeds for the next season. If you pay attention to the catalogues and seed forums right now you will be all set to get started in spring.

Putting seeds in the ground and taking care of them

Spring usually means starting fresh and it feels great to put new plants in your garden. When the weather starts to warm up you should get your soil ready. Take away the winter mulch break up the soil and put some compost on top to make the dirt better.

Watch out for late frosts in early spring. Begin by planting seeds inside for the plants that don’t like the cold and hold off on moving them outside until it’s safe. Keep an eye on the weather reports and be prepared to protect your fragile plants if you need to.

You should also take the chance to bring in helpful bugs such as ladybugs and lacewings. They will support your garden's balance and help your plants thrive as they begin to grow.

Dealing with heat and dry conditions

Hot weather can quickly become really intense which can put plants at risk of overheating. Focus on ways to water that keep the soil damp. Watering in the early morning helps keep plants from losing too much water and makes sure they have enough moisture before the sun gets really hot. Drip irrigation systems are really good for watering plants in a precise and effective way.

A good way to keep your summer garden healthy is by using mulch. Spread it around your plants to help the soil stay wet and stop the roots from getting too hot. Pick organic mulches such as bark or straw because they break down over time and help improve the soil.

Think of the shade as a helpful friend. You can put garden netting over your plants or grow some shade-loving plants like lettuce underneath the taller ones to keep them safe from the sun.

Gathering and getting ready

When the leaves start changing color fall brings a lot of good things like fruits vegetables and herbs. Picking fruits and vegetables when they are fully ripe gives them the best taste and nutrition. Look carefully at the signs of maturity for each plant which you can usually find on seed packets or in gardening books.

After the harvest is done it’s time to get ready for winter. Get rid of sick plants and old crops so pests don’t stick around for the winter. Take this opportunity to sow cover crops like clover or rye that will help keep your soil healthy and improve its fertility during the winter months.

Fall is a great time to plant shrubs and trees. The nicer weather helps them grow roots without worrying about the hot summer which means they will be ready to thrive in the spring.

If you watch how the seasons change and use these gardening tips you can have a lively garden that can handle whatever weather issues you face. If you pay attention to the weather your garden will do well and grow strong throughout the year.