Essential Tips for Outdoor Garden Maintenance
As temperatures begin to drop, it is time to start thinking about how to protect your garden for the colder months. Properly winterizing your plants can help ensure they thrive when spring returns. Here are some essential tips to get your garden ready for winter.
1. Bring Houseplants Inside
When temperatures dip below 42°F, houseplants are vulnerable to cold damage. Bring them inside before frost sets in to prevent leaf drop and cold burn. As Heather Sherwood from the Chicago Botanic Garden advises, “Many plants do not like the cold and will start to suffer by dropping leaves or having burn-like edges on leaves.”
2. Leave Plant Debris to Protect Your Garden’s Ecosystem
While it is important to remove weeds and diseased plants, leaving some plant debris can benefit your garden. According to Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed’s From Seed to Spoon app, “Debris on the ground can prevent soil erosion and provide shelter for wildlife, supporting a resilient ecosystem.” Fallen leaves and plant material can also act as a natural mulch, protecting the soil through winter.
3. Sow a Cover Crop
Planting a cover crop is a great way to improve soil health and prepare your garden for spring. Cool-season crops or hardy legumes like crimson clover and hairy vetch can prevent soil erosion, reduce compaction, and add nutrients back into the soil.
4. Cut Back Certain Perennials
Not all perennials need to be cut back before winter. Cut back perennials that are not winter persistent. Evergreen perennials, ornamental grasses, and plants with attractive seed heads can be left standing for added visual interest and to provide food for wildlife.
5. Protect Tender Annuals
Tender annuals may need extra protection as temperatures drop. You can either bring them inside or cover them with frost cloth or burlap. Alternatively, allow them to die with frost and collect their seeds for replanting next season.
6. Mulch Your Plants
Mulching helps insulate the roots of perennials, shrubs, and trees from the cold. Jim Putnam, plant expert for Southern Living Plant Collection, recommends mulching in the fall to prevent winter weeds and retain moisture. Make sure to leave some space around the base of your plants to avoid rotting.
7. Dig Up Tender Bulbs
Certain bulbs, like dahlias, cannot withstand cold temperatures and should be dug up and stored indoors. After the first frost, gently lift them from the ground, clean off the soil, and store them in a cool, dark place for the winter.
8. Protect Trees and Shrubs
Newly planted or cold-sensitive trees and shrubs can benefit from being wrapped in burlap to protect them from harsh winds. For those near walkways or roads where salt is used, protective coverings can help shield them from salt damage.
9. Clean and Store Your Tools
Winter is the perfect time to clean and sharpen your gardening tools. Stay ready so you do not have to get ready for the new season.
10. Disconnect and Store Garden Hoses
Drain and store your garden hoses to prevent them from cracking in the cold. Water left inside can freeze, expanding and damaging the hose.
By following these steps, you can prepare your garden to withstand winter’s challenges and ensure a healthy, vibrant start when spring arrives.
