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Preparing Your Garden For Winter | |
Winter: A needed rest for your garden
Winter can seem like a sad time to dedicated gardeners. Your favorite patch of ground lies dormant, maybe ice or snow-covered, but definitely brown. Don't let the inactivity get you down though because winter is actually a wonderful time for your garden.
Getting your garden ready for winter is the best way to make sure that it is ready to burst out in all of its glory when spring arrives. All you need to do is provide a little tender loving care in the fall and then let Mother Nature put your garden to sleep for the winter.
Preparing your garden for the winter doesn't have to be a lot of work. In fact, depending upon how many rows you have to hoe, you can likely get it all wrapped up in an afternoon.
Start by removing all of the dead plants and flowers and prune back all of your bushes or you'll risk having to do it in the spring when it's really too late.
Next pull up all of the weeds and rake up fallen leaves and other garden debris which has accumulated. Be sure not to leave the piles of leaves on your grass through the winter because they will do damage to your lawn. If you have a compost pit then let them spend the winter there.
You can also use the leaves to cover your vegetable beds. Simply turn the soil over with a garden fork or spade and then cover the dirt with a layer or leaves or grass. Make sure that the weeds have been removed though. No sense giving them a chance to take root! Don't spread the layer to thick. You want just enough to act as a mulch as it breaks down over the winter to make the soil richer and prevent early spring weeds from germinating when the ground starts to get warm.
Next you should plant your spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips. Try a little variation and plant them in clusters instead of in rows. This makes wonderful bursts of color in your garden and is a great way to welcome spring.
You may need to cover your fragile plants and shrubs depending upon the climate zone that you live in. Place leaves or other mulch thickly around the roots and consider covering the entire plant with burlap if you live in a hard freeze area.
Now all that's left is to clean up your garden tools and get them into your garage or shed for their winter vacation. Make sure that all garden fertilizers and chemical packaging is sealed tightly to keep out moisture. Dispose of all expired products according to label instructions. Empty out your sprayers and dispose of their contents properly as well.
That's it! Your garden us ready to rest through the winter season and you can rest as well secure in the knowledge that you've done all you can to help ensure that your garden will be healthy and happy come the long awaited spring.
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