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A wintertime garden in Petaluma , CA . Photo by Jan LeCocq .
While Northern gardeners have jolly much closed up shop , Southern gardeners might be leave wondering what this winter flap is all about . Those who are lucky enough to live in clime where you may garden most ( or all ) of the year do n’t have to worry about protect plants from snow or blowing H2O out of sprinkler lines in October . However , there are thing that you could do in mild climates to check that that your chiliad stays looking its best through the “ winter ” .
Protect plants : You might be thinking — but hold off , you just said Southern gardeners do n’t have to interest about protecting their plants . Even with mild winters , one unexpected overnight frost can cause legal injury and even be fateful to your frost - tender garden plants . insensate winds dry plants out quickly , as leave will lose more wet than in unagitated conditions . Plan in the lead and keep a fewshrub coversor burlap wraps on hired hand to protect cutter plant from frosty nights when the mercury dips close to or below freezing or for cold , visionary times . It ’s likely you ’ll want to order cover online , because your local garden center or corner storage might not expect them , or may not have many in stock if they do .
lend them in : Cold - sensitive container plants , like tropicals , might involve to bebrought inside for the time of year , or at least on extra chilly day and nights . condition the boldness of individual works , some can only handle lows to 50 degrees before experiencing wrong . Learn houseplant healthy in winter .
Pre - rules of order plants for spring : Spring planting time will be here before long . Pre - ordering your plantsfor home delivery is the perfect opportunity to essay something new or happen that favorite hydrangea that reminds you of your nanna , but is n’t conduct at your local garden middle . So plan out front , key Modern industrial plant or observe honest-to-goodness favorites , and be ready to drop them in the basis when they come at your doorsill .
Maintain out-of-door piece of furniture : While you might still be spending some time outside , chances are it ’s not as often . Now is the time to make needed repairs to outdoor upholstery or give furniture a brisk pelage of paint . protect your furniture from the elements withfurniture coversis often more important in warmer climates where furniture may already be damaged from red-hot summer sun .
Take care of garden tools : When you ’re capable to garden year - round , garden peter never get a break . Take a little extra time in winter to make indisputable they ’re in expert working gild . Store tool properly to keep them dry in wintertime rains . Treat wood handles and protect metallic element open withboiled linseed oil colour . Take inventory and replace any tool that are beyond repair , making note of new prick you might want for the hail spring and summer . SeeTool Care & Maintenancefor more .
Add mulch : It ’s a in effect time to top off the mulch around industrial plant . Mulches that were applied last outflow will need refill after survive blistering summertime day and other wintertime rains . A in effect stratum of mulch will assist to insulate roots on cold nights and maintain moisture in the soil when dry winter wind muff .
Prune tree diagram and bush : Deciduous yield Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and non - spring - blossom trees and shrubs can be pruned in early to mid - wintertime . Prune any winter bloomers just after flowering . Keep an eye on the weather and do n’t clip when besotted weather is expected . Moisture encourages the growing of clay sculpture and bacteria that can invade the impertinently turn out branches . For more on pruning , seePruning Garden Shrubs and Perennials .
Adjust water system : Many trees and plants go dormant over wintertime and wo n’t command most as much pee as during spicy summer month . The Lord’s Day ’s rays are n’t as intense and moisture wo n’t evaporate as quickly . Winter rains may also supplement the water render to plants , so correct your watering schedule accordingly . Timers with wet sensing element or those that you could access remotely to close piss off at a instant ’s notice can be handy when unexpected shower strike .
mark for broken ramification : Although trees and shrubs in the South are n’t usually subjected to snow loads , some jolly fierce wintertime winds can blow through . Keep an eye out for branches that are weak , rub together , or those that have been break . Support or get rid of them to preclude further damage .
Pansies . Photo by : Alexander Raths / Shutterstock .
impart colour with dauntless wintertime plant : Brighten flower bed withcold - resistant florescence plantssuch as pansies , petunias , snapdragon , genus Dianthus , calendula andcyclamen .
instal new camellias , azalea and rhododendrons : Not all plants are best established in winter , but it is a great time to plantcamellias , azaleas , andrhododendrons .
establish bare root trees and shrubs : Now ’s the time to get those bare etymon roses , shrub , vines , citrus and yield trees in the ground . The time of year can be short and they demand to be planted while they are still dormant to avoid shock .
Put in fountain - flowering bulbs : Bulbs that were stored in the icebox in October are quick to imbed in January or February . Get them in the ground now and you ’ll have beautiful outpouring flowers . Learn bulbs .
Kale . Photo by : Quality Stock Arts / Shutterstock .
arise some veggies : wintertime vegetable horticulture can be quite fertile in zones 8 - 11 . The weather is still warm enough through most of the winter , although you may need to bring home the bacon some protection in January or February . The sunshine ’s ray are mellow and wo n’t fire seedlings or dry out the soil as tight as in summer . There are few worm and pests to deal with , and most diseases are n’t a problem this fourth dimension of year either . There are also few pot to argue with and the garden becomes almost guardianship free . Vegetables that mature well in early bounce in northerly gardens , such as lettuce , pea , spinach plant , cultivated carrot , broccoli and kale , broadly do well over wintertime in milder regions . For more suggestion of what to plant , seethis list of cool weather veggies .
shop class for seeds : Start design your fountain and summer veggie and heyday garden now . Many come can be started in zones 8 and 9 in January and February . Some of our best-loved seeds can be regain at : Proven Winners , Botanical Interests , andBurpee .
Review and revise : Make musical note of what worked in your garden , as well as what did n’t , over the last year . spay this coming year ’s plans to stress something novel or fix what went faulty . If you ’re having trouble remember the successes or mistake from last spring , then now ’s the prison term to get agarden journaland start making note , so next twelvemonth you ’ve engender the information handy .
Educate yourself : Take some time for yourself and get wind something fresh . ratify up for anonline classor shop through a local botanical garden . Treat yourself to a newgardening bookand make architectural plan for thatvegetableorflower gardenyou’ve always wanted to develop .
