For those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s that dreaded time of year- time to clean up and prepare for winter putting all remnants of summer away. It can be difficult to find the time and energy to put into your garden but you will reap the benefits come spring.
By simply following some of the below tips, your garden’s transition from winter to spring will go by effortlessly.
- First and foremost, you should move potted and hanging plants indoors. The cold weather can actually freeze the soil of these container plants and kill them off. Remove any dead or dying annuals.
- Harvest all fruits and vegetables and clean up any fallen fruits and vegetables as these can lead to unwelcome pests.
- If it has been a particularly dry fall for you, water the perennials, trees and shrubs that will be staying behind, their roots still need water before the deep freeze. Just because these plants are dormant doesn’t mean they’re dead!
- Tidy up your gardens being sure to remove any debris from them, this will surely ease your transition in the spring.
- Finally, tidy and maintain your tools. Clean off any excess soil or dirt and store them in a dry place. For those of us that fight the extreme cold it is best to bleed the water out of your hoses and store them in a dry place for the winter.
If the thought of tidying up the garden for the cruel winter is depressing you, maybe it’s time you consider some indoor gardening! Whatever you decide, don’t procrastinate on the much needed fall maintenance.
