When it comes to preparing for the winter, it’s always best to start early. Give yourself plenty of time to get organized and your garden will start off with a huge bang come next spring. The following tips will give your garden that added boost you’re looking for.
Get Rid of Annuals
It may feel a little sad to uproot those plants that looked incredible during the summer, but it needs to be done. Annuals will only last you a single season anyway, so why not maximize their use by adding them to the compost heap?
Cut Those Pesky Perennials
Every year, you’ll get these popping up in your garden. Prior to the start of winter, make sure they are all cut back to soil level. Dispose of all of the cuttings to prevent the spread of disease.
Add Lawn Fertilizer
Give nature a helping hand by adding a little bit of lawn fertilizer before the harsh cold weather descends on your garden.
Have a Pond? Cover It
The first step in protecting your pond from undesirables is placing a net over it. This will stop any falling leaves from falling into the pond and polluting the water. Don’t let the water freeze completely if you own fish; leave a small gap so that they’re allowed to breathe.
Protect Young Trees
Just like with us humans, young trees need plenty of TLC and protection. Get yourself a batch of tree-guard products such as mesh wire to wrap around the tender bark, which will act as a shield against critters and other undesirables.
Weed It Out
Whether on the flower beds or on your lawn, make sure you attack those weeds before the winter sets in. If you don’t, they’ll multiply and you will have a very tough job on your hands come next season.
Compost + Mulch = Protection and Nutrients
Give your garden beds a few inches of compost all over and finish off the process by adding a later of mulch. This effective strategy ensures your lot is given appropriate protection from rodents in addition to plenty of nutrients.
Watch Those Roots
Novice gardeners often make the mistake of removing plants completely, including the roots. The preferred method is to cut the plant at the surface, giving the roots the chance to aerate your garden soil.
User Cover Crops
An easy and super effective way to give your soil a nice security blanket is by sowing cover crops. They will give your garden a guaranteed lift before the start of the next season, giving you a distinct advantage over gardens that are left uncovered.
Need a couple of ideas? Annual ryegrass, winter legumes (winter peas, vetch) and oats will all do a very good job indeed.
Cover or Store Your Tools and Furniture
Depending on how harsh the winters are in your area, it’s always a good idea to protect your tools and garden furniture from the worst of the weather. You can either use plastic covers or a garden shed. You don’t want to have to buy an entirely new range next year!
This may look like an extensive list and it’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed. However, they’re all small jobs that can be done in steps. Just make sure you don’t leave it till the very last minute and your winter garden will thank you!
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