A Guide to Preparing Your Garden for Winter

As we enter the latter part of fall, it's the perfect time to start preparing your garden for the winter months. With a bit of effort and careful planning, you can ensure your garden not only survives the cold but continues to thrive all the way to spring. Fellow gardeners, check out my recommendations below. 

Cleaning Up 

Now, first things first: inspect and clean up your garden! Remove any diseased, dead or dying plants. This is like a preemptive strike against potential diseases and pests that might come from the collected debris over winter. Remember to clear away leaves and debris, as these can be hiding spots for pests in the cold season.

Caring for Your Perennials

Next up, you should give your perennials extra attention. While they are hardy plants, they still need some love and care to make it through the harsh winter. Trim and cut back their foliage to just above the soil, while you can leave the woody perennials as they are for additional winter interest. 

Also consider transplanting or dividing up any overcrowded perennials. This will give them adequate room to thrive. Make sure to water them consistently after transplanting, and apply some mulch around the base to prevent their roots from freezing. 

Don’t Forget Your Annuals 

And don't forget your hardy annuals! Many annuals meet their end with the first frost, while varieties like calendula can often withstand the cold, offering dashes of vibrant color even in the middle of winter. These little troopers deserve some extra love for their resilience, so give them consistent care and watering throughout the cold season. 

Tending to Your Veggies

Clear out dying plants and amend the soil with compost when tending to your vegetable garden. This will enrich the soil and improve drainage for the coming year’s crops. If you have young plants or tender bulbs, just dig them up and keep them safe in a cool, dry place until spring arrives.

Mulch Love

Adding mulch to your plants is like giving them a winter coat. A thick layer of organic mulch consisting of straw, leaves or wood chips will effectively insulate the soil, protecting roots from frost. This is particularly important for new plants like shrubs and perennials, and will shield them from any cold spells. 

Protect Your Trees and Shrubs

Protect your trees and shrubs in the cold season! It’s easy to overlook them sometimes, so remember to wrap the trunks of young trees with tree guards. This helps prevent bark splitting and sun damage caused by temperature fluctuations.

Add Winter Interest

You can easily add winter interest to your garden with ornamental grasses, shrubs, and some hardy perennials. These plants will provide more color and texture, livening up your outdoor space even in the dormant winter.

Suggested Plants for Winter 

First, we recommend the evergreen Japanese Holly, a favorite for winter gardens. This shrub features small, spiky leaves that turn a striking bronze in winter, along with clusters of bright red berries that grow through the cold months.

Karl Foerster or feather reed is an ornamental grass that showcases tall, feathery plumes that shift to a warm beige color in winter, providing added structure and movement to the garden for visual appeal.

By following these recommendations, you can make sure your garden is prepared for the winter ahead. A little effort now will reward you with a beautiful, bountiful garden come spring!