Winter is right around the corner, meaning any gardeners need to prep their gardens for biting cold air and snow.
For many, it’s hard to find the motivation to winterize your garden after all your hard work for the past two seasons. However, that doesn’t diminish the importance of preparing your garden for the colder months.
So, what are the things you’ll need to prepare?
Preparing the Structures and Tools
Pathways, tools, garden beds, and watering systems should all be considered when getting ready for the winter.
- Pathways: If you want to minimize excessive pavement cracking or isle slipperiness, try to clear out these pathways after most of the leaves have fallen. Clear pavements with a stiff broom or brush and some water. You can simply rake dirt or gravel paths to get rid of debris.
- Buildings: Autumn is a good time to repair any issues with your fencing or greenhouse since you no longer have to worry about the plants themselves. Pests and decaying wood should be treated or replaced as necessary.
- Water features: From waterfalls to ponds to fountains, it’s important to unclog any filtering or drainage systems and turn off any water that may run through the system’s piping. If you have a pond, fall is a great time to clean it out. However, it’s also important to keep the pond at a temperature that will keep it from freezing if you have fish inside!
- Lighting: This is purely aesthetic rather than necessary but it can make a big difference to your garden. People often find it relaxing to have decorative lights during the winter so their garden space doesn’t look so empty without all of the plants to fill it.
- Watering Systems: Taking the necessary steps to prepare your garden’s drip systems, hoses, and sprinklers is more important than you think. Not doing this could cause issues with piping and even lead to your watering systems breaking.
- Tools: Since you don’t have to care for your plants during winter, this is a great time to care for your tools. Sharpening and cleaning your gardening tools helps ensure a longer lifespan and more effective use in the future.
FAQ’s on Prepping the Garden Itself
- “What should I add to the soil in the fall?” Preparing your soil for spring by adding various kinds of nutrients in the fall can give these components more time to break down and become part of the soil when spring rolls around. Try adding bone meal, compost or manure, rock phosphate, and other plant-worthy nutrients and minerals.
- “Should I cover my garden in the winter?” Yes! There are many ways to cover your crops, though. Planting certain plants meant to last through the winter can help you avoid soil erosion as well as add nutrients to the soil. Covering a bed with compost first, then mulch can also protect the soil. Finally, you can cover your garden beds by snugly placing a simple mesh gardening cloth on the garden bed. Don’t forget to also wrap the trees!
