Candy's Garden Oasis

Tips for Winterizing your Garden

21st October, 2009 - Posted by candy - No Comments

Below are a few quick tips for winterizing your garden by following these easy steps you will make thing go a lot smoother in the spring time. Please leave any tips that you may have.

Plants Perennials Now.
Now is the time to hit up your local garden center before the first frost and buy perennials that are on clearance. This time of the year stores have sales on perennials. Those they may not look to good, but that is only because it is the end of the season, and it time for them to go dormant, not because there is anything wrong with them. By planting them in the fall they have all winter to get rooted. When your plant a new plants the first few months are spent with the roots just growing to fell there new home. Then come spring they will be ready growing and will grow bigger.

Add Mulch
One of the best things you can do for your garden before winter is to top it off with mulch. Most people think that it’s the cold and snow that is the problem in the winter months. But really it’s the melting, thawing, and refreezing that causes problem for plants. By adding mulch it will protect the plants and as it decomposes it will add nutrients to the soil. Also mulching will slow down the weed growth in the spring.

Storing your Equipment
Hoses, sprinklers and watering can should be drained of water and put into an indoor storage. If left outside and not drained they will freeze and burst or crack. Clean dirt of any tools to prevent rusting. Also terra-cotta pots should protect for freezing. They either need to be kept somewhere where they won’t collect water or empty and store upside down.

Plan for Next Spring.
Winter it the time to plan for your spring garden. Start with what work or didn’t work out well over the past summer. Start looking for seeds that are at a large cost saving and start growing them indoors. In my next post I will tell you how to start from seed. All you really need is a east or south facing window. And remember as I always say have fun and enjoy. Until next Candy.