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“Winterize Your Garden”

You’ve put a lot of time, energy, and expense into
maintaining a beautiful yard and garden all through the
spring and summer seasons. Don’t let the gray days of
fall and winter lead you into believing there is
nothing left to do but watch your hard work whither,
turn brown, and die.

Perhaps you’re thinking, isn’t that just the way of
nature? Nothing trumps nature, but there’s plenty you
can do before the first snow falls. And what you do now
will make your life easier — and your yard and garden
more responsive — as the ground thaws and new life
begins next spring.

So, before you store away your trowel — and coil up
your hose — here are some last minute things to do.

1. First and foremost, clean up the garden by trimming
back perennials, pulling out any dead annuals, and
getting the weeds out. Clear out all the dead and dying
plants and leaves. If left throughout the winter,
you’ll be creating a wonderful habitat for hibernating
damaging insects.

2. One of the greatest things to see at the beginning
of spring is the emerging points of tiny little green
spring bulbs through the thawing soil. This is a sure
sign of the colorful blooms to come. So get ready in
fall for that excitement by planting your spring
flowering bulbs. Professionals at most nurseries
recommend planting daffodils and narcissus first
because of their need to root in the fall. Any of the
others can be planted later, even up until the ground
freezes.

3. Mulch, mulch, mulch. After the first frost, mulch
your perennials and new tree plantings. This will help
to protect fragile roots and keep weeds down once the
soil warms after winter.

4. As for your lawn, make sure all the leaves have been
raked before it snows. Make the last cut of the season
shorter than normal. According to Beth Phelps, Pulaski
County agent with the University of Arkansas
Cooperative Extension Service, grass needs sunlight
before it goes dormant for the winter. A layer of
leaves over it will prevent this last bit of energy
getting to its roots, energy it needs to come back
strong and lush with the spring thaw.

5. Don’t be afraid to water. Just because the sun is no
longer beaming down its hot, drying rays doesn’t mean
the yard and garden don’t still need water. Cold air
can be just as drying as warm air. If it hasn’t rained
or snowed in a while, soil can dry out, damaging the
roots of perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees.

6. With the living aspects of your yard and garden
attended to, it’s a good idea to put away yard
ornaments, ceramic pots, and containers. Cold
temperatures alternating with some warmer days can
cause these things to crack and break. It is better to
play it safe and take them out of the elements.

7. Last but not least is caring for your tools.
Well-tended equipment, just like your garden, can last
for years with just a little extra attention. For hand
tools such as trowels, hoes, and cultivators, make sure
they are washed and dried thoroughly to prevent them
from rusting. Store them inside through the winter
months. For wooden handles, nursery workers recommend
rubbing linseed oil into the wood to prevent it from
drying out. Larger gas-run tools, such as your
lawnmower, trimmer, and edger, should also be cleaned.
If the gas tanks aren’t empty, add a stabilizer to
preserve the unused gasoline.

Performing these simple tasks before you hunker down
for the winter months will save you time, money, and
extra exertion when spring returns and you once again
embark on the journey of creating a beautiful spring
and summer garden. You’ll definitely have a head start
toward a colorful, healthy, and abundant garden.

This article on Winterize Your Garden is brought to you by www.backyard-gardening.com