5 Steps to Winterize Your Garden

Winterizing your garden is crucial for preparing your shrubs, flowers, and vegetables for the upcoming season. Proper winterization will help your plants thrive naturally and minimize your workload come spring, letting you dive straight into the enjoyable task of planting.

Just as you prepare your home and irrigation system for winter to enhance their efficiency, you should make some effort in the same way for your garden. Sudden temperature drops can damage delicate plants, so it's always wise to be proactive in your garden care before freezing weather comes. Neglecting this important gardening step can make you miss a fruitful harvest. In this post, our gardening experts share steps to winterize your garden to weather freezing winters, allowing you to enjoy it season after season.

When is the Best Time to Winterize a Garden

The ideal time to winterize your garden is in the fall before the first frost hits. Once temperatures reach or dip below freezing, it's crucial to tend to your plants. Ensuring the optimal conditions for their survival is key to a successful winter. If you've invested time in your garden throughout the year, starting the winterization process before the first frost is essential to protect your plants.

To help you get a start for next season, here are five simple ways to winterize your garden, plus a bonus tip:

1.  Remove All Invasive Weeds from Your Garden

You may hope the cold will take care of weeds for you, but it's better to handle them yourself before winter sets in. Spot all weeds from your garden and remove them thoroughly using a stainless steel weeder. This proactive approach protects your garden and soil from the following three significant issues:

1. Increased Proliferation: If you let weeds live in your garden through the winter, they have a higher chance of going to seed and establishing deeper roots, which means more weeding for you in the spring and summer. With less competition with plants in winter, weeds can thrive. Get ahead of this problem by pulling weeds before the first frost, giving yourself a clean slate for spring.
2. Pest Reduction: Weeds can attract pests, providing them with shelter and a place to lay eggs. Removing weeds helps keep those unwanted visitors at bay.
3. Pathogen Reduction: Like pests, weeds can harbor harmful pathogens that can damage plants.

Fall is the time to address invasive plants that may have taken root in your garden this season. Completely removing invasive species' roots and all are essential to prevent them from returning and affecting next year's crops. Be cautious with composting, as many invasive species can survive in a compost pile. Instead, dispose of them in the trash or burn them in designated autumn burn piles to avoid spreading them further.

2. Add Mulch on Top of the Garden Soil

The best way to give your garden a well-deserved winter break and jump-start for the coming spring is by mulching. After weeding, apply a thick layer of mulch to your garden beds. Winter mulch insulates the soil and serves as a blanket for roots. Mulching your garden before winter can offer numerous benefits:

• Suppresses weeds and seeds
• Adds nutrients to the soil
• Keeps the ground cold during temperature fluctuations

If mulch is expensive, use leaves you rake up and grass clippings. Just be cautious about using debris from diseased plants, such as those with powdery mildew, to avoid transferring pests or pathogens to soil.

After the first hard freeze, apply 2-4 inches of pine needles, leaves, straw, hay, bark chips, compost, or other organic mulch around the plants. Keep the mulch a couple of inches away from the plant stems to prevent rot and discourage small rodents that might seek shelter in the mulch from gnawing on the trunks.

3. Water Deeply Before Freezing Temperatures Come

Once you've weeded and tidied up your garden, it's essential to water it thoroughly before winter. This is particularly important for your trees, shrubs, and perennials. The ideal time to do this is about a week or two before the ground freezes, from mid-October through late November.

After your plants have had their last drink, drain and turn off your outdoor irrigation system to prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting over the winter.

While your garden won't need as much water during its dormant phase, a good soaking before the cold hits will help it withstand the dry winter conditions. Throughout winter, aim to deep-water your garden a few times a month, as dry weather can harm the roots even while they're dormant. However, only water when temperatures are warmer, and avoid doing so when they're close to freezing.

4. Bring Tropical Plants Indoor and Plant New Hardy Spring Bulbs

Regarding bulbs, fall is the ideal time to plant your spring-blooming bulbs, preferably before the first frost. One significant advantage of planting hardier bulbs now is that the soil is easier to work with.

Some plants are more resilient than others, allowing them to tolerate lower temperatures or stay protected underground from cold frosts. Winter flowers like camellias, English primrose, and violas will thrive in your winter garden. Even carrots are quite winter-hardy and can remain in the ground throughout the coldest months.

On the other hand, you'll want to bring your potted flowers and tender bulbs indoors. A frost or sudden temperature drop can easily shock and damage these plants. The sensitivity of the bulbs or plants you need to protect will depend on your growing zone and their cold hardiness.

Additional Tip: To protect vulnerable bulbs from frost, carefully remove them from the ground and let them dry. Storing moist bulbs can lead to rot, so place them on trays in a garage or shed (ensuring nighttime temperatures aren't too cold) and store them in mesh bags. Add several sheets of paper between the bulbs to absorb any excess moisture.

5. Remove Annuals and Divide Perennials

Letting annual plants like marigolds, tomatoes, and radishes die and decompose naturally can be tempting for gardeners. However, it's best to resist this urge. Annuals will die off in winter and won't return, and they can also attract pests and pathogens, like weeds. Leaving them to rot puts your garden at risk.

Once your annuals start to die, it's time to dig them and dispose of them. Avoid composting these plants, as they can invite pests and diseases to your compost.

Furthermore, you can leave perennials, such as dahlias and hydrangeas, in the ground. If you notice they're growing too close together, gently dig a few to give them enough spacing. Throughout the growing season, you may have noticed some perennials becoming overcrowded. This can lead to air, space, and nutrient competition, impacting their health.

To ensure your blooms thrive, gently dig up the parent bulb and remove any excess dirt around the roots. You can divide the plant by carefully splitting the roots by hand, cutting them with a sharp knife, or using two forks to separate them. Each division should retain a healthy number of roots before being replanted in the garden soil.

Once you have divided your perennials, your flower beds will look more spread out and filled up in the next growing season.

Bonus Tip: Clean and sharpen tools

While every gardener knows the importance of keeping their garden tools clean, sharp, and well-oiled year-round, staying on top of this during the busy gardening season can be challenging. Fall is an excellent time to revitalize your tools and extend their lifespan.

Start by washing your tools to remove dirt and debris. If you find rust, use sandpaper or a wire brush to remove it. Sharpen hoes and shovels with a basic mill file, and a whetstone is ideal for sharpening pruners.

Finally, take a rag coated in light machine oil and rub it over the surfaces of your tools. This will help seal the metal from oxygen, keeping your tools in good condition for another year.

The Bottom Line

Late fall is the ideal time to winterize your garden and prepare it to withstand winter and welcome spring in good condition. A little sustainable care for your garden can make a big difference. By following these tips, you'll ensure your garden and plants remain in good health throughout the cold season.

If, despite your efforts, freezing winter seems to affect your garden plants, do not panic. Many plants will bounce back in spring, so give them time to heal before giving up on them. Reflect on your gardening successes and challenges from the past year to have a clearer winterizing strategy, knowing which plants to discard and which to keep. The more confident you feel about your garden, the more you'll enjoy maintaining it, leading to a healthy harvest and beautiful outdoor space.

DripWorks stocks a collection of yard and garden tools and high-quality garden irrigation systems to help with any garden size.