Winter is a time of little activity in the garden. As the cold, short days are usually spent indoors, the garden is often neglected. There are a few basic tasks that need attention, however. To prevent damage and ensure enjoyment once warmer weather arrives, prepare your garden to survive the harsh winter weather conditions.

Clean Up

If you haven’t done so already, clean and put away all yard and garden tools. Once they are clean and dry, apply a coat of WD-40 to the metal parts of tools to help prevent rust and coat wooden handles with linseed oil. Drain hoses and wrap faucets to protect against freezing.

Attend to Plants

Thoroughly inspect all vegetation. Remove annuals that need replacement. Cut perennials to a height of 7-15 cm. Remove loose broken limbs but wait until the end of winter to actually prune shrubs and trees. Rake fallen leaves. For potted plants that will winter outdoors, bury the container, if possible.

Protect from Frost

Spread mulch over flowerbeds and around shrubs and trees. Commercial mulch, straw or fallen leaves that have been shredded may be used. Wrap young trees or vulnerable shrubbery with burlap or horticultural fleece. Place inverted pots covered with straw over vulnerable plants. Move tender perennials indoors, if necessary.

Monitor Drainage

During cold weather, standing water will freeze and damage vegetation. It is critical to protect plants that may be in areas where water can accumulate. During wet weather or when watering, examine the garden and address drainage issues in any area where water tends to puddle.

Tags: Garden, Home, Perennial plant, Shrub, tips, Tree, WATER, winter

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 11:42 am and is filed under Garden. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.