Is Your Garden Winter-Proof?

The first cold weather and frost can really sneak up on you. It’s a good idea to winter-proof your garden before cold weather sets in.

In order to prevent losses and maintain your garden, here are some ideas to get your garden ready for winter and tips on maintaining it during the cold season.

Water Features

If you have a water feature in your garden, such as a pond or fountain, these water displays will need specific are. Here are some tips.

* Skim off fallen leaves, or put a net over your pond to catch falling leaves. Remove leaves once fall is over.

* Float a plastic ball (even a soccer ball will do) in your pond when the weather gets cold enough for the water to freeze. This also helps keep an area open for air if you have fish.

* Remove dead plants from in and around the pond.

* Clean out the bottom of the pond, too – organic matter settled there can “poison” the water as it decays, killing fish.

* If you have a fountain or pump in your garden or pond, consider dismantling it and bringing it inside. A hard freeze could ruin a pump. Filters should also be removed and brought in.

Perennial Gardens

Perennial gardens need some winter preparation to minimize loss, but perennial gardens are probably the lowest-maintenance variety of garden.

Bear in mind that perennials do need to have a dormant spell and experience cold weather in order to come back strong in the spring — winter provides something of a rest. However, damage can occur if the winter is particularly dry and/or cold.

Here are some suggestions for preparing a perennial garden for the cold:

* Mulch around the plants with a quality mulch. This will preserve warmth and moisture while still allowing dormancy.

* Pull out weeds, especially to prevent weeds from going to seed.

* Clean out dead plant debris, and make sure you don’t give pests shelter to overwinter.

Container Gardens

It’s considered best to keep your containers outside if you have perennials in them, but because their roots are above ground, you will need to protect the containers from hard freezes. You can do this in various ways.

* Wrap pots in bubble wrap and secure with package tape.

* Place pots against your home’s foundation and pile mulch around the pots.

* Heap mulch and/or straw around the containers where they are in your garden.

For plants that are only annuals where the weather is cold, like basil, you can try bringing them in to an indoor sunny spot over the winter.

Vegetable Gardens

Sources agree that clean-up is especially important in vegetable gardens. As you clear debris, consider these other maintenance ideas for your vegetable garden this winter.

* Plant soil-enriching crops like red clover or winter wheat.

* Spread compost over the soil and work it in.

Follow these steps, and you’ll reap a huge reward when Spring comes again!

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