As the days get colder, most gardeners hang up their garden shears and kick back. Yet winter is a great time to prepare for the next growing season! Here are some things you can do for your garden over the winter months.
Tools
Now is a great time to check on your garden tools and give them some much needed love. Sharpen your blades, and oil your shears, loppers, scissors, pruners, and any other garden tool you have. A sharp blade and a proper working tool saves time and lessens damage done to plants while pruning.
Check on Bulbs and Seeds
If you left bulbs, and tubers to keep over winter, be sure to check on them frequently. Small changes in humidity can cause precious bulbs to rot or catch fungus. The same goes for any seeds you saved. Keep bulbs and seeds in cool, well-aerated conditions over winter and watch them last for many years to come.
Keep Up With Compost
If you’ve built a compost pile correctly, it should still be cooking. Even if it’s cold outside. If you continue to tend to it, your compost pile will help you greatly once the weather begins to warm. Remember to collect kitchen scraps in a sturdy, sealed container and mix well into the pile to promote good incorporation and decay.
Perennials
It is important not to cut down your perennials. Many beneficial insects spend the winter on your plants. Letting your old perennials stay through the winter will make your garden a far more vibrant place.
Clean
Houseplants deserve your attention over the winter months. Dust off the leaves, and gently clean them with a damp, moist cloth. If you notice sticky, scentless residue on any leaves, check your plant for scale insect. These can be cleaned off with a small bit of rubbing alcohol.
Feed
Leaving flower stalks standing in the garden will help insects and birds alike. You can also hang important fat sources like peanut butter or suet from a piece of twine and put out a water bowl for your favorite feathered creatures!
Plan
Now is a great time to plan improvements and new layouts for your garden! Think about what worked and what didn’t work and figure out how to solve the issues you faced last season. Going into spring with a good plan for your garden can make all the difference!
Ariana Marisol is a contributing staff writer for REALfarmacy.com. She is an avid nature enthusiast, gardener, photographer, writer, hiker, dreamer, and lover of all things sustainable, wild, and free. Ariana strives to bring people closer to their true source, Mother Nature. She graduated The Evergreen State College with an undergraduate degree focusing on Sustainable Design and Environmental Science. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
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