With the seasons changing and temperatures dropping, ensuring your garden is prepped for the winter is vital. It may be frustrating to think about preparing your garden for the winter when you have been working on it all summer, but it’s important to protect all of the time, energy, and money you invested in your garden. Our garden experts at Martin’s Home & Garden are always available to answer any questions and offer tips on winterizing your garden. Below you will find an easy-to-follow five-step guide to ensuring your garden is ready this winter season.
1. Bundle Your Plants up With a Winter Jacket
If you thought you only had to worry about getting a winter jacket for yourself this winter season, then think again! We know it sounds silly, but it is necessary for your shrubs, trees, and rose bushes to have a jacket that protects them from the harsh winter wind. It’s easy to create a DIY plant jacket using fleece blankets or even products such as burlap or landscape fabric. When using any of these products, ensure they are securely attached around the plant you’re trying to protect to avoid blowing away with the wind. Make sure you use fabric and not plastic, though, to allow for airflow.
2. Plant Your Bulbs
There is no better feeling than getting something checked off your checklist early, and getting your bulbs planted before the ground freezes can be one less task you need to worry about in the spring. That way, when spring does roll around, you won’t need to worry about whether the soil will be ready to take on your future bulbs. Planting your bulbs before winter also allows you to get them deep enough in the ground to protect them from harsh winter winds and temperatures so they can thrive come spring!
3. Weed Your Garden
While this is one of the most dreaded gardening tasks, it is vital and should be done year-round. Ensure you remove all weeds, dead plants, leaves, infected/sick plants, or anything you do not want in your garden. Removing the infected/sick plants from your garden will help you save the rest of your garden from infection. This precautionary step is one of the most important tasks you should do before the winter season starts to have a fresh start this spring!
4. Get Watering!
Make sure you give your garden a quick rinse before you turn your water off for the winter. Watering perennials, trees, or shrubs before shutting your water off for the winter is especially important. You should ensure that you can taper the amount of water you are giving your plants at least a couple of weeks before shutting your water off completely. We also recommend that you drain your hoses and any other gardening supplies that may contain water so that they do not freeze and crack during the winter season.
5. Bring Tender Plants Inside
Some plants can withstand the freezing temperatures and harsh winter winds, but others may need to be dug up and stored inside for the remainder of the winter. Plants that need relocation during the winter include tender bulbs, succulents, and potted flowers. It’s a good idea to research the best ways to relocate different plants, as some plants require different climates. If you dig up bulbs and relocate them, make sure you dry them off to prevent rotting. We recommend putting several sheets of paper in between the bulbs to absorb any unwanted moisture. By bringing these tender plants inside now, you will be able to replant them in the spring!
Visit Martin’s Home & Garden For Your Gardening Needs!
Visit our nursery in Murfreesboro at Martin’s Home & Garden today to shop for any supplies needed to winterize your garden this season! Read our FAQ for more information and for guidance on what kind of supplies you may need! If you need help winterizing your garden, come by, and one of our garden experts will help you find the best way to keep your garden safe this winter.
