Garden Prep For Winter

How to Put Your Garden to Bed for Winter

As fall settles in, it’s time to prepare your garden for winter. Taking a few simple steps now will help ensure a healthy, vibrant garden when spring arrives. Here’s everything you need to know about prepping your beds, including what to trim, what to leave, and a bit about plant dormancy.

1. Tidy Up Dead Growth, but Leave Select Plants Standing

While it’s tempting to clear everything out, certain plants provide winter interest and can benefit your local ecosystem. Begin by removing any diseased or pest-infested plants to prevent problems from carrying over to spring.

For healthy perennials, cut back the stalks and leaves of herbaceous plants, but consider leaving:

• Grasses like Miscanthus and Switchgrass, which add movement and beauty with frost.
• Perennials with seed heads, such as coneflowers and sedum, as they attract birds and other wildlife.

2. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!

Mulching helps insulate the soil, keeping roots warm and preventing frost heave, which can uproot plants. A 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base of perennials, shrubs, and trees is perfect. Choose natural mulch like shredded leaves, bark, or straw, as they’ll break down and enrich the soil over time.

3. To Transplant or Not to Transplant?

If you want to move plants around, early fall is the ideal time in Southwestern Ontario – but only before the ground freezes! Aim to transplant perennials at least 6-8 weeks before hard frost. This gives the roots time to settle in and ensures a stronger plant next spring. Water deeply after moving any plants to reduce transplant shock.

4. Give the Lawn Some Love

Fall is a great time to boost your lawn. Rake away fallen leaves to prevent matting, and aerate if you haven’t done so in a few years. Spread a fall lawn fertilizer with higher potassium to strengthen roots through winter.

5. Dormancy: What’s Happening Beneath the Surface?

As the temperatures drop and days shorten, plants enter a state of dormancy. Dormancy is like hibernation for plants, helping them conserve energy through the colder months. Above-ground parts may wither, but roots stay alive and ready to spring back to life when warm weather returns. This natural process ensures plants have the strength they need for new growth in spring.

6. Protect Tender Plants and Shrubs

For plants that are borderline hardy, add a layer of mulch or wrap them with burlap to prevent frost damage. Evergreens, especially young ones, benefit from burlap wraps to prevent winter burn caused by cold winds.

7. Tools and Equipment: Prep for Spring

Finally, clean and store your tools and equipment. Give pruners and shovels a good scrub, sharpen blades, and oil any metal parts. Drain hoses and sprinklers to prevent freezing, and consider storing them indoors if possible.

Putting Your Garden to Bed for Wildlife

Remember that leaving some stems, seed heads, and even fallen leaves can create habitats for local birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects. Plus, winter gardens have a unique beauty – frosty grasses, red-berried shrubs, and seed heads create a magical, quiet landscape.