For most people, Winter is considered the gardening off-season. On the other hand, smart gardener's will use this time much like a professional athlete who uses the off-season to prepare for the actual season. Winter is a great time to clean your plant beds and prepare your garden for the new season. Plant growth during this time is naturally limited which opens up the bed area for a much easier clean up.
Spring planting modifications can be achieved once all flower beds and yards are cleaned up. Perennial beds could use an insulating layer of mulch, about 4 to 6 inches deep. Fragile perennial bulbs that might not last through the season should be dug up and stored in a basement or garage for a cool environment. Some perennial growth can be left to take root in the snowy landscape for next season. Landscape cuttings, dead vines, or dead plant stalks without any pests can be thrown into the compost bin for the resulting soil.
It is a good idea to get your trees professionally pruned and topped in winter time. This can allow more light to reach the shallow-growing plants below your trees. Both trees and shrubs should get a warm layer of mulch around their base so their roots get extra protection from the cold. The same goes for roses and other woody shrubs, even evergreens can get much benefit from a ring of mulch or a burlap wrap around the base of the plant. This can prevent frostbite on the roots, preventing re-planting work if the plant dies.
During this off season, more gardeners would agree that it is a good time to restore tools for the spring, by cleaning, sharpening, and oiling them; also they would take care to evaluate to see if any would need to be replaced. Watering hoses can be drained and put away to avoid freezing in the hose that could later cause damage.
Gardening in the home often can be started despite the impeding bad weather outside. Some flowers, vegetables, and herbs can be started indoors for a few weeks before the last frost of the season ends. Peat pots make good temporary containers for growing plants inside the house with bright sunlight. Once the risk of frost has passed, they can then be transferred into the garden. Some seeds can be sown right on top of the snow for blooming in mid-spring or early summer. Spring does not have to be the only time to start planting.
Planning is the key to a good Spring garden. Take advantage of the Winter season to have your beds prepared for Spring. Map out your bed's spacing and determine the best spot for each plant. You don't need a huge budget or a lot of land to have a great garden, you just need to spend some quality time planning on how your garden will turn out.
Spring planting modifications can be achieved once all flower beds and yards are cleaned up. Perennial beds could use an insulating layer of mulch, about 4 to 6 inches deep. Fragile perennial bulbs that might not last through the season should be dug up and stored in a basement or garage for a cool environment. Some perennial growth can be left to take root in the snowy landscape for next season. Landscape cuttings, dead vines, or dead plant stalks without any pests can be thrown into the compost bin for the resulting soil.
It is a good idea to get your trees professionally pruned and topped in winter time. This can allow more light to reach the shallow-growing plants below your trees. Both trees and shrubs should get a warm layer of mulch around their base so their roots get extra protection from the cold. The same goes for roses and other woody shrubs, even evergreens can get much benefit from a ring of mulch or a burlap wrap around the base of the plant. This can prevent frostbite on the roots, preventing re-planting work if the plant dies.
During this off season, more gardeners would agree that it is a good time to restore tools for the spring, by cleaning, sharpening, and oiling them; also they would take care to evaluate to see if any would need to be replaced. Watering hoses can be drained and put away to avoid freezing in the hose that could later cause damage.
Gardening in the home often can be started despite the impeding bad weather outside. Some flowers, vegetables, and herbs can be started indoors for a few weeks before the last frost of the season ends. Peat pots make good temporary containers for growing plants inside the house with bright sunlight. Once the risk of frost has passed, they can then be transferred into the garden. Some seeds can be sown right on top of the snow for blooming in mid-spring or early summer. Spring does not have to be the only time to start planting.
Planning is the key to a good Spring garden. Take advantage of the Winter season to have your beds prepared for Spring. Map out your bed's spacing and determine the best spot for each plant. You don't need a huge budget or a lot of land to have a great garden, you just need to spend some quality time planning on how your garden will turn out.
About the Author:
Gardens depend on having the right amount of space to start off with. Various neighborhoods are built with your needs for a beautiful home and a lovely landscape for your garden.
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