Winter Gardening Dos and Don’ts

21 Jan Winter Gardening Dos and Don’ts

The cold may be particularly biting this winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t garden. In fact, winter gardening can be a great way to get ahead on your spring planting. So if you have been looking for an excuse to get outside and garden, we’re here to help you out. Here are some simple dos and don’ts to keep your garden thriving even when the temperatures outside are dipping below freezing. 

So, grab your gloves and hat, and let’s get started!

Things You Can Do With Your Garden During Winter

Contrary to popular belief, winter is an excellent time to tend to your garden. Here are several things that you can do:

1. Keep Planting

If you want spring flowers and vegetables, winter is a good time to get started with the process. Not only will your new plants get a head start before the weather warms up, but they’ll also benefit from winter’s cooler weather. You can keep them growing strong by covering them with protective mulch when the temperature drops below freezing so that they don’t die.

2. Water Your Plants

Watering your plants in the winter is important, especially if the ground is frozen. This will help keep the roots of your plants healthy and will help them withstand the colder temperatures. If possible, add some compost or other organic matter so that the water doesn’t just run off and leach away.

3. Clear Snow From Around The Roots Of Your Plants

Watering your plants is important, but so is making sure that they are insulated from the cold. One way to do this is by clearing snow from around the bases of your plants. This will help keep them warm and will protect them from the elements.

4. Add Compost to Your Soil

Composting is an excellent way to keep your soil healthy and productive all year round. You may not have time for a whole compost pile in the winter months, but you can still add rich organic matter to your soil throughout the winter, which in turn will help your plants flourish when the growing season returns.

5. Add Mulch to Your Soil

Mulching is a great way to protect your plants from the cold, and it is also a good way to keep the soil healthy. You can use organic materials like leaves, straw, or wood chips as mulch, or you can purchase synthetic mulch if you prefer.

Things You Shouldn’t Do With Your Garden In Winter

Despite the fact that there are plenty of things you can do in your garden during winter, there are also a few things that you should avoid:

1. Leaving Frost On Your Plants Too Long

Be sure to brush any frost off of your plants – especially your crops – as soon as possible. If this frost lingers on the leaves for too long, it can cause damage or even kill your plants.

2. Pruning Shrubs

Pruning encourages plants to grow new, more delicate shoots, making them highly susceptible to frost. Wait to prune shrubs, including butterfly bush and Caryopteris, until the weather warms up in the spring when there is no longer a danger of frost. Remove any winter-killed branches at this point. Prune plants in August if possible, so they have time to harden off before the first freezes arrive.

3. Fertilizing

Winter is a good time for garden plants to rest and go dormant. Compelling them to produce new growth by fertilizing them interrupts this period when they are still rejuvenating. In addition, tender, new growth will be killed by ice storms, extremely low temperatures, and hard frosts.

4. Planting and Removing Annuals

Although it is possible to remove or transplant some annuals in the winter, it is not recommended. Winter weather can be unpredictable and harsh, and most annuals will not survive being transplanted in the middle of winter. It is better to wait until early spring, when the weather has stabilized, to transplant them. 

In addition, it is also not recommended to plant any new annuals in the winter. The best time to do this is in late spring or early summer when the weather is warmer and the risk of frost has passed.

Help Your Garden Thrive During Winter

Winter is an excellent time for gardening! But before you head outside with your shovel in hand, be mindful of things that you can and can’t do. That said, Kel Lake Garden Centre is here to help your garden flourish. We have garden accessories and supplies, landscape materials, trees and shrubs, and so much more. We can even provide you with expert garden advice and care, so don’t hesitate to visit our website today!