The Winter season brings with it cold, dark days and nights. These extended hours of darkness may seem like they will never end, but winter can be a beautiful time to enjoy your garden. Don’t let your garden suffer this winter. Winter can be brutal on plants and flowers, so preparing your garden for the colder weather is essential. We all know that some plants won’t survive in winter conditions, but luckily, there are plenty that will do just fine. Winter gardens require a little more attention than other types of gardens because you’ll need to get down into the dirt and get dirty with mulch or straw, but they’re worth the effort! This article contains helpful tips to help you create your winter garden this year.
Firstly start by preparing your garden
Winter gardens need well-drained soil so if your soil is heavy, add some compost or peat moss to lighten it up. One of the best things about a winter garden is that you can plant earlier than usual!
Why not start with something easy like Evergreens?
They’re easy to maintain and will bring a pop of color when there are no flowers in your winter garden. Winter is not as harsh on evergreen plants as it can be on other varieties of flowering and fruiting plants. Evergreens can make great additions to your garden. They provide a lovely backdrop for the rest of your winter wonderland!
Remember to treat your lawn
This will help keep your grass healthy during the winter months ahead. Winterizer is a type of fertilizer that’s specifically designed to be used in colder weather conditions. Another way to protect your grass from the cold is by cutting it short before winter sets in. This will help keep the soil insulated and prevent any damage that might be done to the blades of grass. You can either use a lawnmower or scissors to do this job!
Protecting your annuals or perennials
Annual flowers are plants that live for one growing season only. Winter conditions can be tough on annuals and perennials because they must work harder to produce fruits, vegetables, or blooms when temperatures drop. However, there’s no need to worry about winterizing these types of plants! Winter gardens require a little more attention than other types of gardens because you’ll need to get down into the dirt and mulch with straw, but it is worth it in the end! Mulch over any perennial beds that have stopped producing leaves in preparation for winter months ahead. This will help protect roots from freezing temps while keeping down weeds too! Make sure to plant early-blooming flowers like pansies which bloom in colder temperatures before other types of flowers do their thing during warmer weather. Dig up any bulbs you planted last fall and store them away for winter. Don’t forget to use snow fencing around your garden if you live in an area that’s prone to heavy snowfall!
Creating pathways and creating bed edges
One way to add some life and interest to your winter garden is by creating pathways with stone, mulch, or straw. Pathways are critical because they help keep your feet warm during those cold winter days while also preventing slips and falls. A well-maintained garden path will also show your visitors that you take pride in your garden! If you have a raised garden bed, make sure to edge it with stone, brick, or wood.
Create your own Polytunnel
If you’re feeling really ambitious this winter, you might want to consider creating your own Polytunnel. Polytunnels are basically large greenhouses that can be used to extend the growing season for plants and flowers. They’re a great way to keep your garden alive during the winter months!
Last but not least, why not add larger, tougher plants to your garden?
There are plenty of larger plants and trees that can sustain winter weather conditions. Trees like Cold Hardy Palm Trees and plants like junipers and yews can be planted in your garden to give it a nice touch of color during the winter months. These plants will add some life to an otherwise barren landscape. You may want to consider planting your plants like the junipers and yews in large containers/pots. This will allow you to move them indoors during cold nights or if there’s an unexpected snowfall that they might get damaged from.
We hope these tips will help you create your very own winter garden this year! Winter gardens are a great way to add some life and color to an otherwise dreary landscape. They’re also a great way to keep your plants and flowers alive during the colder months. Be sure to mulch, protect and water your plants well so they can survive the winter chill.
