Having your garden means that you are never bored or without something to fiddle with. As much as it provides us with in forms of vegetables, so too does it demand constant tinkering, adjusting and maintenance. Most garden enthusiasts wouldn’t want it any other way and, we don’t blame them for it.
Gardening is a way of life and, being out in it and surrounded by fruits of your labor is one of the best feelings in the world. To achieve that, there is always some season-specific tasks that needs to be done, to ensure a rich harvest and bountiful yields. Just as gardening is connected to the weather and the season, so too must you adapt to this. Only then can your garden can shine to the fullest.
1. Lawn mowing
Before the snow blanket falls over or, if that hot period came, your lawn can use one last cut. One final trimming and smoothing it out before you put the old lawnmower to its deserved rest and, your yard can also follow. With the lawn mowed, you are giving it chance to recover and absorb all the moisture during these winter times.
Minus the growth spurt. Plants know and feel what time of the year it is, and they can adapt to it. With colder weather and temperatures in the minus, they will begin their winter’s rest and will save all that energy for the moment spring shines. Because all parts for your lawn are evened out before that you are giving them all an equal start. In this way, it can be a neat one as well.
2. Winter cleanup
Branches, leaves, mowed grass, weeds, there is no shortage of excess foliage. It would be a real shame to throw all of that away or to waste, so making a dedicated composting area is more than beneficial. Composting is producing your fertilizer that couldn’t be more natural. All of the parts for it are grown in front of you.
You are bringing the cycle of life to full circle and returning that energy to your garden. It only makes sense to use what your garden is giving you in the best way possible and, by not wasting or throwing away anything, you are being as eco-friendly as possible.
3. Soil maintenance
With all that out of the way, the next item on the list is the soil itself. As it probably gave a lot of its nutrients to make your garden flourish with delight, so too it needs our help in these transition times. Your compost is being prepared, but now you can use some mulch to rejuvenate it. Some organic fertilizers can also do the trick. What’s most important to note here is that you don’t have to leave all of that on the surface.
Consider your soil as a cake and mix it all with the sharper part of your garden tools or with your hands if it feels enough. By mixing in all those good things, you are making the foundation for your future success. All those nutrients are getting mixed and mashed together to rest during these times. Also, they will soak in all that water from the weather and snow. With the first spring light upon them, they will be ready to go and kick start your gardening success.
4. Tools of the trade
A garden can only bloom and flourish with the right tools for the job. These make the whole gardening process a breeze and enjoyment that we all know and love. Having the proper assistance for each task is a lifesaver and, we all have our favourite tools that our hands already know to use by default.
This transition era is always a good opportunity to refresh our arsenals and make the best out of various offers in front of us. Maintaining and updating quality gardening tools is a needed activity as you want them to be ready with the first chance you get come spring. Oiling them, cleaning from any organic matter and drying them are three simple steps anyone can take to ensure they keep their edge.
Since they are an investment, you want to get the most out of it and, while they may have already paid for themselves with their quality service, one more season can always happen. With a bit of love and care put into them, they will surely return the favour when the time comes.
5. Gardening beds
These areas can now become a clean canvas for your future vision. Cleaned from weed, any leftovers and bugs, you can now return them to their original state. A soft reset, sort of and if you will. You can check if they are still sturdy and fix, tighten up and re-pain them. With some elbow sweat, it may be best to move them if you don’t plan on keeping the dirt inside or want to refresh that come spring as well. Storing them in a dry and safe place during the winter depends entirely on you.
6. Water elements
It is easy to forget those watery elements that are, at first sight, hidden from us. Your hoses need to be emptied of any leftover water and stored high and dry because any water left inside will freeze and will potentially damage them. D
on’t forget to turn off the water for your garden water spots as the water left in the pipes can also freeze, and it doesn’t matter if they go through underground. Fountains, ponds and pools should all be drained and dried with a piece of cloth, if possible, to ensure nothing gets ice on them because anything left can damage them.
While having bird feeders is lovely, they also need your attention during the transition phase. Water is in excess these days so you can empty and cross that off the list. Food and warm shelter should be their only function during this season.
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7. Ceramics and clay pots
These small but vital parts of any garden, are in many ways left to their devices. It is not enough to empty them of their content, but extra steps should be taken in drying and proper storage. As winter comes with lower temperatures, the safest way to store them is to not put them inside one another but besides. Stacking them one on top is also not recommended as the weight adds up quickly, and they can crush the ones at the bottom.
Once cleaned, you should dry them out a bit before storing them in a safe place. While individual pots may not be expensive, whether they are made from clay or ceramics, you don’t have a single item here. Many of them can get damaged, chipped or broken during winter, and the last thing you need on a fresh summer gardening start is a hefty pot bill. Some love, care and affection go a long way for your special storage so that they may return the favour to you.
8. There is still planting to be done
If you simply can’t go without planting something all year long, then even winter is no excuse for you. There are loads of things you can pre-plant so that they can seemingly lay dormant until the Sun shines. Plants from the amaryllis family, like tulips and daffodils, are ideal to be laid dormant and left together up to their energy.
Their seeds are sturdy and can be planted deep into the soil you prepared. Once all tucked up beneath the snow, they can wait until the time is right to shine along with the sunshine. Or you can pick some seeds and continue gardening indoors.
Pre-planting some plants that you aim for your first and early harvest is a great way to kick start the gardening year. A single seed inside a plastic cup, or if you want to re-use those ceramic and clay pots, snuggled in a dry and warm place is a start. With your daily love, watering and care they will start to sprout just in time for that early spring. Or, if the weather is not right at the time, you can always continue to grow them inside until it gets better. Re-planting them will be just one more activity once you kick start your garden and be the first one to reap the rewards, while others are still planting seeds.
9. Planning is half the battle.
So, you’ve done everything you can, and your garden is nice and tidy. Winter can come and, snow can fall. The soil is prepared, there’s compost going, all is clean with all that remains is for the time to pass. To not sit idly and leave some things for later, there is a bit of organizing you can do in the meantime. With a single and simple piece of paper or with some gardening apps you can start planning for the season to come.
It is not always the best idea and practice to plant the same plants in the same area, as different types use different minerals from the ground. Mixing it up a bit and doing something new is a great way to start the year. In these transitioning times, you can try out new layouts and designs, especially if you will have multiple harvests. After all, you may have pre-planted a bit, so there is already one on the way. And maybe this year you want to do things differently. The choice to mix and match is all up to you.
While all of this may seem like too much, we do not doubt that garden enthusiasts like you are up to the challenge. Taking that first step and getting into it can make all the difference and is the best thing you can do for your garden at this time. Bit by bit and you will get dragged into it and be done in no time at all. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours as you begin planting and planning your next gardening adventure.