How to Prepare Your Garden for the Winter
by Mystify on May 13, 2009 with 1 Comments
This article explains all that you need to do in order to care for your garden properly in the winter.
FOR YOU THERE’S ROSEMARY AND RUE;THESE KEEP
SEEMING AND SAVOUR ALL THE WINTER LONG.
-William Shakespere (The Winter’s Tale)
With the onset of the new calender year quickly approaching, the winter garden will become an air of quietness and the winter sunshine will seem to become rationed making it an irresistible force. Preparing your garden for the winter can seem like a task, but here are three reasons among many as to why you should take the time to do it for the upcoming season, it will set your mind at ease to know that you have taken the time to save those precious ornamental shrubs and the things you feel so dearly about in your garden, it will save you money from the damages that can be caused by the winter and it will enhance your garden in the spring.
Gardening To Do List For Winter Preparation
Trees And Shrubs:
-Prepare for winds by removing decaying or dead branches on established trees.
-Protect newly planted evergreens with a temporary windbreak until they are established
-Prune overhanging trees and shrubs
-Shorten hybrid tea roses and floribundas to reduce the damage from windrock.
-Cut back one-third of the summer’s fuchsias leaving the remaining bare stems as protection over the winter
-Plant bareroot and container-grown roses and transplant any established roses you want to resite
-Create an inexpensive hedge by taking hardwood cuttings and inserting them directly into the growing site.
-Protect newly planted shrubs and shrubs of borderline hardiness by covering them with an insulating material such as horticulture fleece,plastic bubble wrap or straw.
-Prune winter flowering shrubs over three years old after flowering
-Prune apple and pear trees and treat the cut with a wound paint
-Firm in any autumn flowered shrubs and border plants lifted by the frost.
-Brush heavy snow from shrubs conifers and hedges so that there is no danger of the branches breaking
-Check stakes and ties on newly planted trees to make sure they are secure and not rubbing.
Plants:
-Protect vulnerable plants from frost and wind damage
-Cut back any clinging climbers from windows and doors
-Prune the wisteria to increase flowering next year
-Lift tubers and bulbs,dry them then store them in a cool frost free place
-Check in the plants greenhouse,cold frames and under cloches and see if they need watering.
-Deadhead and tidy any plants in containers.Move any pots containing vulnerable plants under cover if severe frosts are forecast.
-Protect winter-flowering bulbous irises in the garden from severe cold or damp.
-Complete any pruning of greenhouse vines while they are dormant and remove looses bark which may harbor pests.
Garden sites:
-Put winter protection in place around vulnerable border perennials and shrubs
-Clear fallen leaves and other debris so slugs,snails and other pests have nowhere to hide.
-Group containers for mutual protection over winter,wrapping up vulnerable pots and plants.
-Clear and dig beds for use next spring provided the ground is not waterlogged or frozen
-Use the cold when it is not possible to work outdoors to plan design improvements and new plantings for the spring.
-General grounds such as ponds,drains etc….
-Apply wood preservative to garden seats and sheds and structures such as archways,pergolas and trellises
-Drain surface pumps in the pond and have them serviced if necessary;otherwise clean,dry and grease before storing.
-Cut the lawn for the last time and clean and store the lawnmower.
-Keep an area of the pond ice free if you keep fish
-Lag or drain outdoor pipes
-Clean and service the lawnmower and other garden tools
Open the greenhouse ventilators on sunny days but close them early in the afternoon before the temperature drops.
-Make any necessary repairs to structures supporting plants such as trellises,pergolas and arches while the plant are dormant.
-Switch off outside water
-Clean out ditches and drains
-Wash and disinfect seed trays and pots,ready for early spring sowing and planting
-Have gutters cleaned and if necessary have any repairs done that need to be done.
Following this guide will ensure that you have taken the right precautions needed to be taken against the cold weather and remember,if you don’t have the time or energy to take this list on by yourself, you can always hire someone else to do it.
More Gardening Articles By Mystify
Beautiful Fall Blooming Perennials
Beautiful Fall Flowering Shrubs
Preparation For Perennials In The Spring
Gardening With Long Term Herbs
How To Utilize Space For A Small Garden
Create Your Very Own Rock Garden
Popular Garden Plants and Their Meanings
How To Grow And Care For Perennials
Essential Fall Gardening (September Tasks)
Winter Care For Your Greenhouse
Essential Fall Gardening (October Tasks)
Buying Guide for Essential Garden Furniture
Copyright © 2008 Tanya Kime-Wallace
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Published in: Gardening
Joe Dorish | Sep 26, 2009 | Reply
Great tips! Had to give up gardening as there are too many deer around they don’t give up.