How can I take care of my garden during winter months?
Winter garden care involves protecting your plants from the cold, helping them go dormant, and preparing for spring. To protect your garden and ensure it’s healthy and ready for the next growing season you can add a layer of mulch around the base of your plants to insulate the soil and retain moisture. This is especially useful for perennials and shrubs. Use burlap, frost blankets, or even old sheets to cover delicate plants during frosty nights. Avoid plastic, as it can trap moisture and freeze plants. Avoid frequent watering, as plants won’t need much when dormant. Winter is generally a good time for pruning deciduous trees and shrubs.
Remove fallen leaves, dead plants, and debris from garden beds to prevent disease and pests.
If you have raised beds, add compost or mulch to protect the soil. Indoor plants often need extra light in winter, so consider moving them closer to windows or supplementing with enough lights.
Most indoor plants need less water in winter, so avoid overwatering. Indoor heating can dry the air, so consider using a humidifier or misting the plants occasionally.
Store hoses, containers, and any other garden equipment in a dry area. Drain hoses and fountains to prevent damage from freezing. Test soil pH or nutrient levels if you haven’t recently, and plan to amend it based on what you’ll be planting in spring.