Seasonal Transitions: Preparing Your Garden for Winter

When the yellow and orange leaves start to fall it shows that winter is coming soon. For people who love gardening this time of year is important to get the garden ready for the cold months ahead. If you get ready the right way your garden can do more than just make it through spring it can really flourish. Here are a few things you can do to get your garden ready for winter.

Clean up the garden areas.

Begin by removing any old flowers and vegetables that are done growing. Get rid of leaves and trash that might attract bugs or sickness during the winter. It may seem easier to just leave things alone to save time but a tidy garden helps prevent problems when spring arrives.

Take care of your perennial plants.

Help your perennials make it through the cold by adding some mulch on top. Put a layer of mulch that is about 2 to 3 inches thick around the bottom of each plant. This will keep the roots warm hold in moisture and stop the freezing and thawing that can hurt the roots.

Think about using covers for your winter crops.

If you are still growing vegetables that can handle the cold like kale or Brussels sprouts using crop covers can help you grow them for a longer time. Lightweight fabric row covers help protect plants from frost and still let in light and moisture.

Get the trees and shrubs ready.

If you want to keep young trees and shrubs safe from winter harm you might want to put a wrap around their trunks. This helps stop splitting that can happen when winter temperatures change a lot. Put some new mulch around the bottom of the plants but make sure it doesn't touch the bark.

Empty and keep the hoses.

Make sure to empty the water from the hoses and put them inside so they don’t get damaged when it gets cold. Turn off the outdoor faucets and put insulated covers on them if you live in a place with really cold winters.

Take care of your tools.

Make sure to clean your gardening tools well before you put them away for the winter. Get rid of any dirt and put some oil on the metal parts to stop them from rusting. You might also want to think about sharpening the blades. Taking care of things now will help you get back to gardening when spring arrives.

Think about setting up a winter garden if it makes sense.

If you live in a place with the right weather winter gardening can be a fun and satisfying activity. Look into using cold frames or greenhouses if you want to keep growing herbs or salads. You can still pick tough plants such as carrots and leeks even in the middle of winter.

Give some food to the birds.

Winter is tough for birds around here and putting out feeders can make it easier for them to get by. Choose seeds that are high in fat such as sunflower seeds because they give you a good boost of energy. This helps them stay alive and birds can also keep pests in check when spring arrives.

If you get ahead of things when the seasons change your garden will be ready for spring sooner. Taking these steps is important for keeping your plants healthy and will help create a successful garden next season. With winter coming soon it’s a good idea to care for your garden now so you can enjoy the benefits when spring starts to show up.