As the vibrant colours of autumn fade, it's time to prepare your garden for the colder months ahead. Winterizing your garden isn't just about tidying up; it's about protecting your plants, ensuring their health, and setting the stage for a thriving spring. Follow this guide to safeguard your garden and look forward to a beautiful new season.
Protecting Tender Crowns of Delicate Plants
Frosty nights can be devastating for tender plants. Before the first hard freeze, take steps to protect their delicate crowns:
- Mulching: Apply a thick layer of organic mulch (straw, leaves, wood chips) around the base of tender perennials like hostas, dahlias, and some herbs. This insulates the soil and helps regulate temperature.
- Cloches and Covers: For smaller, more vulnerable plants, use cloches, row covers, or even inverted pots to shield them from direct frost. Remember to remove these during the day if temperatures rise to allow for air circulation.
- Bringing Indoors: For truly tender plants in pots, such as some fuchsias or geraniums, consider bringing them indoors to a cool, bright location.
Checking Overwintering Bulbs in Storage
Bulbs stored over winter, such as gladioli, cannas, and some dahlias, need regular attention to prevent losses.
- Inspection: Periodically check your stored bulbs for any signs of rot, mold, or pests. Remove and discard any affected bulbs immediately to prevent the spread to others.
- Ventilation and Temperature: Ensure your storage area is cool, dark, and well-ventilated. Fluctuations in temperature or excessive humidity can lead to problems.
- Moisture: Most stored bulbs prefer a slightly dry environment. If they appear shriveled, a very light misting might be necessary, but be careful not to overwater.
Rose Care for Winter
Roses require specific care to endure winter's chill and emerge strong in spring.
- Pruning: In late autumn, perform a light tidy-up prune, removing any dead, diseased, or crossing branches. Avoid heavy pruning until spring.
- Mounding: Once the ground freezes, mound soil, compost, or shredded leaves around the base of your rose bushes to protect the graft union from extreme cold.
- Protection: In very cold climates, consider wrapping individual rose canes with burlap or using rose cones for added protection.
Forcing Bulbs for Indoor Colour
Chase away winter blues by forcing bulbs indoors for a splash of vibrant colour.
- Selection: Choose bulbs suitable for forcing, such as hyacinths, daffodils, crocus, and paperwhites.
- Chilling Period: Most bulbs require a chilling period to simulate winter. Plant them in pots with well-draining soil, then store them in a cool, dark place (like a refrigerator or unheated garage) for 10-16 weeks.
- Bringing Indoors: Once the chilling period is complete and shoots begin to emerge, bring the pots into a brighter, warmer location. Enjoy the burst of indoor blooms!
Dormant Spraying Fruit Trees, Shrubs, Roses, and Flowering Ornamental Trees
Dormant spraying is a proactive measure to control pests and diseases before they become a problem in spring.
- Timing: Apply dormant sprays (typically horticultural oil or lime sulfur) during the late winter or very early spring when plants are fully dormant, temperatures are above freezing, and there's no rain in the forecast.
- Coverage: Ensure thorough coverage of all bark surfaces, including crevices and branch unions, where pests and disease spores can overwinter.
- Target Pests/Diseases: Dormant oils smother overwintering insect eggs and scales, while lime sulfur targets fungal diseases like powdery mildew and black spot.
Tool Cleanup for Next Year
Proper tool maintenance at the end of the season ensures your gardening equipment is ready for action come spring and extends its lifespan.
- Cleaning: Remove all soil and debris from shovels, rakes, pruners, and other tools. A wire brush can be helpful for stubborn grime.
- Sharpening: Sharpen pruning shears, loppers, and other cutting tools. Sharp tools make cleaner cuts, which are better for plant health.
- Oiling: Apply a light coat of oil (like mineral oil or WD-40) to metal parts of tools to prevent rust.
- Storage: Store tools in a dry, organized space, hanging them if possible to keep them off the ground and prevent damage.
By following these winterizing steps, you'll not only protect your beloved garden but also lay the groundwork for a more robust and beautiful display next spring. Happy gardening!
Join our seminar to learn more about getting ready for winter. Our seminar is on Sunday, October 19th, at 10:00 AM at the Green Thumb Garden Centre.
We're open 7 days a week, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Stop by to see what we have in store or if you need assistance — we'd love to see you!