Is your garden ready for cooler temps
Simple steps to prepare your garden for winter weather
As temperatures drop in the fall, it's time to prepare your garden for winter. When the weather gets colder it can seem like there isn't much going on in your yard. However, there is a lot going on in the soil until it freezes. This is especially true for newly planted trees and shrubs, divisions of perennials, and hardy spring bulbs. All of these plants have profusely growing roots to anchor themselves to the ground. And earthworms and soil microbes are still at work, processing organic matter into nutrients that plants need. While nature has its own ways of coping with the colder months, there are a few things you can do to help prepare your plants for winter.
1. Mulch your perennials
As long as they are hardy where you live, perennials will return year after year. Preparing hardy plants for winter does not require much effort from you. But watch out for freezing temperatures if your area gets frost and thaws during the season. This means that soil actually pushes plants out of the ground, especially new plants that don't have a lot of roots yet. To prevent this, once the ground freezes, add a 6-inch-thick layer of chopped leaves, straw, or other mulch around your perennials. This will help balance the soil temperature, especially if your area doesn't always have snow on the ground all winter.
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Sometimes the plant's own dead leaves help protect its crown and roots from the cold, so go ahead and leave them until next spring. Many perennials (such as sedums, purple coneflowers, and ornamental grasses) have forms that are beautiful in winter. Additionally, their seeds help feed birds and other wildlife. But if you want a tidy garden, it's best to cut your perennials to the ground after the frost leaves have wilted. Add a layer of mulch to help protect them.
2. Protect annuals from frost
Unlike perennials that come back every year, annuals only live for one season in the garden and cannot withstand freezing temperatures. Some are called cool-season annuals, meaning they prefer to grow and flower when temperatures are cool. These include ornamental kale, blue lobelia, and snapdragons. Warm season years, on the other hand, can be hot. Zinnias, French marigolds, and impatiens fall into this category.
Old sheets or floating row covers can extend the life of both types of annuals by keeping them handy during light frosts. Continue annual watering until freezing temperatures kill them. If your annuals are in containers, move them to a garage or other protected location when temperatures are forecast to drop into the 40s overnight. You can do this if the daytime temperature does not rise above that limit.
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3. Dig out the tender bulbs
Fall is the time to plant hardy spring-flowering bulbs, but there are other types of plants called tender bulbs. These include popular summer bloomers such as gladiolus, cannas, and dahlias. If you live where the ground freezes, these tropical plants won't survive the winter. But if you want to save these plants for another year, you can bring them indoors.
Wait until the frost leaves turn brown, and gently dig up the bulbs or tubers. Cut the leaves and brush off the soil as much as possible. Avoid washing in water, as moisture can cause bulbs to rot during storage. Leave them to dry in the open air for a week. Label them so you remember what they are. A trick is to write the name with a permanent marker, as shown here with dahlia tubers. Then, pack them in a breathable container like a cardboard box. Cover the bulbs with sawdust or old newspaper so they don't touch, and store them in a garage, basement, or another place where it will be below 45°F but not freezing.
4. Sweet trees and shrubs
If you make sure your trees and shrubs are in good condition, they will get through the winter with ease. For both evergreen and deciduous species, one of the most important things is to give them plenty of water before the ground freezes, especially if the fall has been dry. After the ground freezes, spread the organic matter, such as chopped leaves, to a thickness of 6 inches. It helps retain moisture in the soil (plants need water even in winter) and protects the roots from freezing and thawing. Remove damaged or diseased limbs to prevent snow and wind from exacerbating these problems. For young evergreens in exposed locations, protect them from drying winter winds with burlap screens or shade cloth covers.
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5. Bundle your roses
Roses are so beautiful that it's hard to beg for the attention they need during the growing season. As cold weather brings their dormant period, you have one final job: getting them ready for winter. Some types of roses are hardier than others, so it's important to know what type of roses you have. As a group, hybrid tea roses are more vulnerable to winter cold and require more preparation; The easiest roses to grow and care for are shrub roses. Be sure to give your roses plenty of water before the ground freezes, but don't fertilize or mow them. Pile extra soil around the base of the root balls to protect them from frost. In zone 6 and cooler locations, add a 6- to 12-inch layer of straw, leaves, or other mulch over the top of the mound protected with a circle of chicken wire.
Simple steps to prepare your perennials for winter
In the fall, most perennials begin to go dormant during the cooler months. There are many things you can do to prepare your plants for winter so they will be in good shape next spring. A little work during the balmy days of fall will set you up for a lush, healthy perennial garden once the weather warms up again. However, don't be tempted to start winter preparations too soon. Wait until temperatures are consistently on the cooler side and plants have mostly stopped growing. Then, use these tips to nudge your perennials out of their long winter slumber.
1. Take stock
The end of the growing season is the perfect time to evaluate the perennial garden as a whole. All the victories and challenges will be fresher in your mind than next spring when the memories of your previous season have faded away. Connect your vision of space with the way plants grow and look with a critical eye.
Which perennials flourished? Which ones struggled, and could any of those plants be moved to a better location? Are there planting areas that need a burst of color in a particular season? Take time to walk through the garden and make notes.
2. Remove the weeds
As your perennials begin to slow down, some weeds that prefer cooler climates begin to thrive and many types of weeds are capable of overwintering. Even small weeds have the ability to quickly turn into monsters next spring. Mercilessly go through the garden, pulling out unwanted plants by the roots or digging them up. If weeds are difficult to pull up, water deeply to loosen the soil and allow roots to emerge more easily.
3. Water well
For most plants, fall watering is critical to winter success. If your area experiences a dry fall and the soil feels dry to the touch two inches or less below the surface, water the garden well before the ground freezes. Running the sprinkler on your perennial beds for a while is a great way to ensure that the water soaks deep into the soil rather than letting it all drip out of the hose. Conserve water by carefully applying water directly to the plant's roots.
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4. Clean up diseased or damaged leaves
It is best to cut plants affected by pests or diseases to the ground level. Removing infected leaves is a valuable tactic in preventing the pest or disease from returning the following year. On the other hand, healthy perennials are better left standing in the garden over the winter. Their foliage provides some insulation for the crown or growing point of the plant. Also, the leaves and stems provide valuable sources of shelter for beneficial insects and animals, and the seed heads are a winter buffet for birds.
5. Select perennials and mulch
Not all plants need an extra layer of mulch to make it through the winter. In fact, mulch can harm some plants, trapping moisture against the stems and leading to rot. There are three situations where mulch is recommended:
Newly planted perennials. Perennials that you can plant in the fall are unlikely to develop deep root systems, so they benefit from an insulating layer of mulch.
Soft perennial fruits. Plants that are sensitive to cold temperatures in your area can survive the winter when their roots are protected by a blanket of mulch.
Areas that experience frequent freeze-thaw cycles. Most common in USDA hardiness zones 7 and 8, winter temperatures can have wide swings, causing the soil to expand and contract. This can lead to frostbite, which means plants are pushed out of the ground, damaging their roots.
The best time to apply perennial mulch is after the top 1-2 inches of soil has frozen. Mulch provides insulation, keeping the soil consistently cool in winter. Loose organic mulches such as shredded leaves, bark chips, pine needles, and straws are an excellent choice to help perennials survive the winter.
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