horticulture is typically think of as a spring , summer , and nightfall body process . Your garden does n’t just vanish over winter , though . So what can you do tokeep your perennials safe through winter , and to ensure your filth is ready for the next round of drinks of planting ? The answer is to change state down your garden . If you ’ve never heard of this , or are n’t indisputable where to begin , do n’t care . We ’ll lay out all the facts for you .
What is turning down a garden?
work down is the process used to get your garden ready for winter . There are a multifariousness of tasks that make up this operation , and the exact task can change depending on a few dissimilar factor . This process can also be called winterizing , transitioning , putting your garden to seam , or just preparing .
There are a few reasons gardeners do this . Firstly , it protect any perennials in your garden , help them hold out the winter so they can bloom or fruit again in spring . It helps keep your soil quality high-pitched , and can even forbid weeds from taking over your garden while it is n’t in use . turn down your garden can even serve reduce the risk of sure plant diseases , fungus kingdom , or pesterer set up their heads in spring .
What to consider before you start
The main affair to conceive before beginning is what your end or goals are . Do you have perennials that you want to keep alive through winter , or are you looking to prepare your garden for outflow planting ? prevent your destination or goals in head is important , since some of the tasks typically involve in turning down a garden only really benefit one goal .
to boot , if you have a different , less common finish for turn down your garden , keep that in nous as you read through the steps list below . Consider how each task benefits your goal , or if it benefits you at all . This helps you narrow down which project are truly necessary , and which may not be worth it for you .
How to turn down your garden
The first step is to clear out any plants that are dead , dying , or that you do n’t want in your garden come fountain . If a industrial plant is diseased or has a fungal infection , dig it up cautiously and confound it by to keep the disease or fungus from spreading . goodish plants can be tot up to your compost . Any plant that self - seed should be left until they ’ve dropped their seeds , unless you do n’t plan on growing that plant again . This exempt up space for new plant , get down rid of pest habitat , and the compost can be used to keep the soil lovesome and add nutrients .
Next you ’ll want to add dirt amendment . These are things that fill again the nutrient in the soil . plant food are n’t typically used for this , since the sudden salvo of nutrients they leave can encourage plants to wake up from quiescency too shortly , putting out new growth that quickly dies . utilise compost instead of fertilizers to avoid this reaction .
If you ’re keeping perennials alive through wintertime , you ’ll require to keep them warm . Mulch is your friend , it keeps the grunge warm and it stop smoke from moving into your garden . In areas that are cold and crocked , you may have an issue with ice or frost burn on leave . Plant covers help keep water off of your plant life . you’re able to get them from most horticulture stores or online . If you desire to make your own , be indisputable to choose a material that will repel , not absorb , water .
If you do n’t have perennials , or only have a few , you may desire to view plant a cover craw . During winter , it ’s good to choose either a harvest that will survive wintertime or a craw that wo n’t , but farm thickly enough that it will protect the soil , even in death . Oats are one of the most common cover crop that return into the 2nd category , while the first category include winter rye and hirsute vetch .
What not to do when turning down your garden
When turn down your garden for winter , the easiest misunderstanding to make is to leave your garden empty and exposed . If your garden is a maculation of loose globe throughout winter , then you ’re likely to experience soil and nutrient deprivation as wind and water whittles your garden away . You should provide your garden with some type of screening , whether that ’s a cover harvest , mulch , or even just a tarpaulin .
Some mistakes are more specific to garden status . If you use drip irrigation or have any sort of hose , rain barrel , or weewee characteristic , remember to debilitate it . If they freeze , it could cause damage that you ’d need to repair come bound . Other matter are do by beginning the process too soon . This is especially common when it follow to watering . Most industrial plant go abeyant in the wintertime , so they do n’t necessitate water . However , you do need to keep watering them until then .
