Unfortunately every year when the cold weather approaches, our gardens are subjected to the frost. This frost has the power to completely destroy and kill the plants, shrubs and harvests you’ve worked so hard on. Thankfully, though, there are steps you can take to winterize your garden. This will make gardening easier for you in the spring, as well as produce an overall more successful garden.
Here are four steps to preparing your garden for frost:
Step One: Do away with any old vegetation
- If you want to save yourself time once the spring rolls around, you must begin by cleaning the ground of any old vegetation. This step will get rid of any pests’ eggs that accumulated over time. Besides that, it will also help you eliminated any leftover spores that could carry harmful diseases. To do this, grab a rake and remove any dead plants or fruits that have fallen from the garden. Then, take that rake and start pulling up weeds that you see growing. This will help ensure that they are not in your way next year. You should also cut back the dead leaves left on your perennial plants and add some organic matter to your compost pile.
Step Two: Care for any potted plants by bringing them inside
- The best way to protect any potted plants that you own is by simply taking them indoors. When potted plants are left outside, the cold temperatures will freeze the soil and ultimately kill the plant’s roots. If you can’t place these potted plants inside for any reason, then wrap the outside with insulation wrap and cover the top.
Step Three: Switch out your bulbs
- In your garden, find and dig up the less hardy bulbs such as the canna, dahlia and gladiola. That’s because it’s these very bulbs that won’t be able to withstand the frigid temperatures. Once you do that, store the bulbs for the winter in a spot that is both cool and dark. At this point, you can start planting tulips, daffodils and other fall bulbs as they will truly flourish with beautiful spring colors.
Step Four: Mulch any leftover plants
- According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Mulching is a great tactic used to keep plants warm, as it replenishes nutrients in the soil and insulates the roots. This will prevent your plants from dying due to the cold weather. To mulch, gather up newspaper, leaves, straw and other compost matter. Then, cover up the plants with these very materials. Doing this will help protect your plants.
What do you do when it comes to preparing your garden for frost?
Image: iStockPhoto
