When the last of the seasonal plants and vegetables die and the first stiff breeze hits in fall, it’s a strong indication that winter is right around the corner and the perfect time to prep your garden. Going about winterizing your garden is different for each person and thus requires examining your location, climate, garden, and plants. Some will require more attention than others based on the species and when it got planted.
A couple of things should be on everyone’s checklist to get the garden winter-ready. Let’s get explore each.
Weeding
Fall starts the season where many plants die, making it the perfect time to get some weeding done. It’s also when you see where the weeds had been hiding when the plants were still in full bloom. If you haven’t been experiencing rain, water the soil a few hours before to make pulling out weeds easier. Sure, it’s not a fun job, but everything dead might be diseased, invasive, or otherwise need to go.
Mulching
Perennials, especially the more delicate ones, do need protection too. Sure, you can expect them to produce new growth in the spring, but you want to avoid risks in a harsh winter. You can use the leaves and other organic plants that you’ve raked off your garden as the mulch. Also, you can trim back the perennials or leave them as they are; it depends on the preferred aesthetics.
Soil amendment
The roots need an environment to survive and thrive after the winter, making fall the best soil amendment time. That helps improve the soil’s properties, but how you go about it is based on the soil type. You can get a home testing soil kit to know what nutrients are lacking in the soil and get the appropriate amendments
Watering
This tip may sound strange, but if you’ve needed to constantly water the plants during a drought, don’t stop because winter is close. You need moist soil to keep the plants as healthy as possible to give them a better chance to survive the coming months. However, do not water them again once done with the winterizing process.
Protect new garden beds
Fall is typically not the best time to plant a flower garden, but if you want plants, especially perennials, to survive the first winter, you’ll have to add more coverage. Munching may be enough, but a drape or a garden cloche is best for the lower growing plants. Before getting one, take precise measurements, including garden size and plant size, to get the right one.
Conclusion
Winterizing gardens doesn’t need to be complicated as they can become a daunting annual task. With this short checklist, you should get your garden winterized quite quickly.
FAQ
Will my garden grow back after winter?
Yes, it will grow back. During the growing season, plants store energy in the roots, bulb, or rhizome, which allows it to go dormant in the winter. When spring conditions come, they grow back.