Winterizing your garden can be overpowering , so I ’ve put together a detailed checklist for you .
In this list I ’ve include everything that I do . It helps me stay on task and organized so that I get as much done as I can before the snow pilot .
When To Winterize Your Gardens
The undecomposed time to start winterizing gardens is after the first punishing freeze in the gloam . This will kill off all of your tender one-year plants and vegetables .
Freezing temperatures will also spark perennial industrial plant to start out run abeyant , so you know it ’s good to start cutting them back .
Of course , you do n’t have to start in good order after the first halt . you may take your time and oeuvre on these tasks all the way up until the blow fly .
Frost on a zinnia flower
related to Post:5 Essential Fall Garden Tasks You Should Never Skip
How To Winterize Your Garden (Checklist)
Below is my detailed checklist that includes everything you need to do to get your garden quick for winter . I included steps to take for your perennial , yearly , and veggie bed , as well as tips for your yard and lawn too .
Weeding
Fall is the complete prison term to weed your gardens . Once the plants die back , it ’s easier to see the weeds that have been hiding all summer .
irrigate the soil a few hours beforehand to soften up the grime and make pulling the mourning band much easier .
Mulching
If you have any tender perennial that will postulate redundant protection during the wintertime , you may use mulch as a screen . foliage , pine needles , and other constitutive cloth are the unspoilt .
you may report the whole bed with leafage if you have enough , or just forget the most tender plants .
Watering
It may seem silly to vex about watering plants while winterizing your gardens . But maintain them well hydrous will see they survive the cold weather condition , especially if you had a summer drought .
Amending The Soil
Fall is the best sentence to remediate your garden seam . Compostis expectant for any soil eccentric , and a instinctive way to add more nutrients .
But before you add any amendments , be sure enough totest your soilfirst so you have a go at it exactly what it needs . It ’s well-heeled to do with ahome test kit .
Deadhead Self-seeders
Next , I focus on cutting back perennial that are aggressive self - sowers ( smutty - eyed Susan and other rudbeckias , liatris , butterfly stroke weed … etc ) . These plants can sometimes become locoweed if you leave behind the seeded player pods in the garden over winter .
cut them back before wintertime save me hours of weed every summer . Of course if you require those volunteers in your garden , then you’re able to take this detail off your checklist .
Winterize Your Perennial Garden
The last thing I do to winterise my garden is to mold on cut down the rest of the perennials , as I have time .
However , I do n’t trend everything down because I like to leave someplants for winter interestand solid food for the birdie .
Dig Up Tender Bulbs
I grow tropic bulbs ( dahlias , cannas , elephant ear , gladiolas … etc ) in my flower layer , so the first thing I do after freezing temperatures have killed off the plants is cut them down . Then Idig up the bulbs and stack away them for winter .
Winterize Your Annual Garden
Once a hard freeze has pop everything in my annual bed , I pull out all of the plants out by the base and toss them into the compost bin .
Some years I ’m too officious to force them all , so I’llclean up the rest of my garden in the spring . Do n’t care , there ’s no impairment in leaving them out there through the winter .
Remove Dead Vegetable Plants
To keep diseases and pests from overwinter on plant life cloth , it ’s authoritative to clear our your vegetable garden .
After the first toilsome freezing has killed off your garden , be certain to remove all of the dead vegetable industrial plant as your top antecedence .
Related Post : How To Prepare Your Vegetable Garden For Winter
Destroy Diseased Plant Material
Do n’t put any diseased or infested plants into your compost bin . Throw them into the scraps or burn down them to demolish the pathogen .
This is a passing of import footstep to take while winterizing your garden , and will help to prevent recur disease and hemipterous insect irruption .
Winterize Tender Garden Plants
you’re able to play many eccentric of tropical plants , succulents , and attendant perennials indoors for the winter . Just be certainly toclean and debug them first .
To make it well-heeled , you may keep cold-blooded hardy plants in an unheated garage or shed to give them supererogatory protection through the wintertime .
Related Post : How To Overwinter plant : The Complete Guide
Rake Leaves Off The Lawn
Allowing leaf to sit on the lawn all winter could create dead patches . So it ’s of import to skim them up before it snows .
leave of absence are swell to utilise as lifelike mulch for your vegetable garden , around your perennial , or in your compost bin .
you’re able to also mulch them into the grass using your lawn mower if you do n’t need to rake , which adds grand nutrients to the soil .
Cut The Grass Short
In the drop as the lawn starts to go dormant , lower your lawn mower brand to give your smoke a nice inadequate cut .
moot bagging the press clipping to thrust into your compost bin or till them into your vegetable garden ( as long as the grass has n’t gone to seed and you do n’t chemically treat it ) . drop is also a great time for aerating and dethatching . Get morelawn mowing tips here .
Winterize Your Garden Furniture
Storing it in a garage , shed , attic , or basement will help it last longer . However , if you do n’t have the space , then considerbuying protective coversfor them .
If any of your outdoor furniture has ornamental tile on it , then I highly recommend get a billet for it inside rather than just cover it . tile can pop or break in exceedingly cold climates ruin the piece ( not that I would sleep together that from experience ) .
Empty & Protect Water Features
It ’s important to empty small piddle feature article , like hiss bath and fountains , and protect them over the winter .
you may get afountain coveror abirdbath coverto protect them outside , or you may move them indoors if you have the room .
Drain Irrigation Systems
If you have any type of garden or yard irrigation system , like underground sprinklers or dripping irrigation , then check that to turn them off and blow them out usingan air compressorbefore freeze temporary worker arrive .
You should also enfeeble your garden hoses and store them in your garage , caducous , or other protect location for the winter .
Winterize Garden Ponds & Waterfalls
In warmer climates , you may be able to leave your pool heart running all wintertime to keep the water from freezing over .
But in utmost climate like mine here in MN , you take to turn off the pump and waterfall to prevent equipment casualty .
You should also use apond heaterif you have plants or fish , to prevent the water from completely freezing over . ascertain exactlyhow to winterise your pond here .
Empty & Store Your Rain Barrel
If you leave water in your rainfall cask through the winter in a cold climate like mine , it would most sure be damage or destroyed .
So check that towinterize your rain cask , and put in it somewhere safe . I turn mine upside down and put it behind our porch where it ’s protected from the sun .
More Seasonal Gardening Tips
