If you want an amazing spring show, you’ll need to do some chores in the coming months
With the flurry of the holiday take over down upon us , now is the perfect time to make a tilt ofwinter garden tasksto accomplish over the make out month . I find that if I wait until the longest , blue part of the year is upon me , I lose sight of what needs doing toget the garden properly poisedfor the “ on - time of year . ” At this full stop , the garden may depend like a sodden mess from the window . When there is a dry day and the sun is peek through the clouds , it ’s the perfect chance to stimulate alfresco and check some tasks off your winter to - do list . One of the most exciting things aboutspringis that it happen one day at a time , so if you are in the garden in the “ off - time of year ” you ’ll get to see it stretch . Here are some fall and wintertime garden tasks to do this month and throughout the three phases of wintertime .
Learn more : Winter Is fall : How to machinate Your Garden the Green Way
Late Fall/Early Winter Garden Tasks
Cut back grasses
Most of theornamental grassesare moderately much in shambling by now . The Bronx cheer have junket on theseed heads , and most of the foliage is smash or collapsed . Now is the time to cut these flora back . My favorite puppet for this labor is acordless hedge trimmer . It makes nimble work of the dried floppy stems and gravel a nice dandy base . If your grasses need to be reduced this is also the double-dyed time to cut around the edges with a acute spade to off some outgrowth . Or you could cut the total plant life in one-half and replant the other half in another smear .
Document and reroute runoff
With the return of frequent rains , now is the time to take note of areas where excessive rainwater has pooled or stimulate rivulets to cut into the ground . Some redirecting of the surplus water should be done now to ensure that the rainfall keeps flowing off the planting beds and the soil does n’t become supersaturated . Take picture of any surface area where water settles and remains for more than a day after a rain . These region can be fixed in spring by provide skilful drain and changing slopes .
Midwinter Garden Tasks
Prune certain plants
This task also includes pruningdeciduous trees . The structure is very easy to see without the leaves on them . Remember the three Ds of pruning : dead , pathological , and damage . Those are the first branches to go , and then move on to the okay pruning . This includes shaping , reducing the elevation , and creating space throughout the branches and around neighboring tree and shrubs so that each tree diagram stands alone without crowd . Winter pruning encourages saltation growth , while summer dress control maturation . There are goodtutorials onlineand great Book on the case to aid give you self-confidence in pruning tasks .
Late-Winter Garden Tasks
Remove excess leaves
Clean up any leftover leaf that have scattered into the garden bed as outpouring approaches . insect can winter on dying leaf , so I often leave downfall leaf drop on many of my bed . This helps protect the soil from overflow and keeps weeds down too . But in late winter / other spring it ’s clip to move out those leaves and put them into a leaf mould mess . Any works that is susceptible to fungus , mould , orinsect pests(think roses ) needs to have the rest leaves around it pulled off . The base of the plant should have no debris around it at all . Top the beds off with a tenuous layer of organic mulch that has been composted around your dormant plant ( so it will be available for feeding the stem when they wake up ) . This mulch keep any soil from splashing back on stems and have disease .
Put down slug bait
Toward the end of winter is normally when I put my first slug bait out into the garden . I expend a natural favorite / wildlife - friendly one , but you’re able to use whatever is most effectual in your garden . It is crucial to use it before you see the first sign of damage . This maintain the slug population from growing quickly . Even snowdrops ( Galanthusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) can be eaten by slug .
Share spring photos to encourage other gardeners
Our garden in the Pacific Northwest often wake up earlier than those in much of the rest of the nation . Early wood anemone begin pushing through the soil . Witch hazels ( Hamamelisspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) begin pushing out spiky orange tree , yellow , and crimson flush , while paperbush ( Edgeworthiachrysanthaand cvs . , Zones 7–10 ) buds fatten up and eventually burst open . Before you go back indoors , take a facial expression around and see what is emerging in your garden . Then share your finds with others — not everyone experiences spring as too soon as we do !
Susan Calhoun is the possessor of Plantswoman Design in Bainbridge Island , Washington .
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Fall is ending and winter is upon us, so now is the time to plan out your winter gardening tasks.Photo: GPOD contributor
It’s time tocut down ornamental grasses that are now falling apart and have exhausted their wildlife benefits.
Usually the Pacific Northwest sees more rainfall in the late fall and winter months, so this is the time to monitor areas of the garden that may experience washouts, like the one pictured. Make a plan to mitigate those areas as soon as the weather improves.Photo: Danielle Sherry
When the leaves have fallen off your trees in late winter, assess what needs pruning and what does not.Photo: Michelle Provaznik
Roses are one type of plant that definitely need the leaves and debris surrounding them cleared away in late winter. Otherwise you may be inviting in disease.Photo: Susan Calhoun
Having slug bait in place before spring officially arrives can help keep populations in check early on.Photo: Fionuala Campion
Photos of newly emerging snowdrops or witch hazels in bloom are a late winter sight in the PNW that gardeners in others areas of the country might appreciate you sharing.Photos: Susan Calhoun
