After putting in a lot of time and effort into your yard during the spring, summer, and fall months, it is easy to develop “Gardener’s Depression” during the winter months. What’s a gardener to do in these barren, lifeless days of winter? Believe it or not, there is plenty to do during the cold months ahead. Here are 6 winter gardening tips to keep you busy this winter:
Cut back all perennials:
Be sure to do this before it gets too cold to be outside. By now, all of your perennials are wilted over and have turned yellow or even brown. Cut these perennials back to the ground and remove all debris around them.
Add a covering of mulch:
Putting down a bed of mulch or pine straw is not only for aesthetics, but serves a fundamental purpose. Mulch will give the root ball of your plants and shrubs the insulation needed to survive the cold months ahead. You should also mulch over the perennials that you just cut back. You don’t want to leave them susceptible to the below-freezing temperatures.
Tend to the fruit trees:
Don’t forget about these guys or gals! Clean up around the root ball and trunks of all fruit trees. Remove all debris, such as old foliage and twigs, as this can breed fungus and insects! After removing all debris, dress the root ball with mulch or pine straw.
Test your soil:
Get a jump on your gardening by getting your soil tested early. If you have been experiencing difficult growing conditions, it may be due to your soil pH. Contact your local agriculture extension office for soil test kits and costs.
Prepare your garden beds:
Once you know what your soil pH is and what your soil may be lacking, begin amending the soil. If you aren’t fighting with snow on the ground, till your soil and work in products that will add necessary nutrients to the soil.
Start visualizing your spring garden:
Since you have a little downtime (when it comes to tending to your garden or yard), begin visualizing, organizing, and planning what you want to accomplish in your garden for the upcoming year. Research what plants and trees will work best for your yard and get creative with your design! Check out our Facebook page for some ideas to get your creative juices flowing! If you need further assistance, give us a call today to schedule an appointment with one of our Landscape Designers, or click here!