flora guardianship modification when the solid ground freezes . Here ’s how to adapt your horticulture .
Carson Downing
Winter is a great clock time to check some garden project off your “ to - do ” list — like order seeds , mulching , andpruning dormant fruit trees . But there ’s no need to do many garden chores when the primer coat immobilize solid , and continue to do these undertaking in winter may actually be harmful to your garden and your plants . To assist steer yourwinter gardening practices , here are 10 garden tasks that you’re able to skip once the soil is icy .
Credit:Carson Downing
1. Watering
Gardeners in lovesome mood may need towater their outdoor plants all year round . But if you last in a parky location , you’re able to stop watering your garden when the ground block , and drain your hosepipe and drip lines so they do n’t break in stale conditions . Plant roots ca n’t absorb water in frozen gardens and you ’ll only need to water again when the soil thaw .
2. Planting New Plants and Bulbs
Some tree and shrub can be plant as long as the soil is workable , but it ’s best to avoid planting most plants in winter , especially after the ground freezes . Cold weather makes it firmly for perennials and bulbs to acclimatise after planting and it also increases the likelihood that plants will be damage by insensate and harsh manipulation . For better results , flora bulbs , and perennials at least one calendar month before yourfirst fall frostor when the ground warms in spring .
3. Fertilizing
Just like water , plant roots do n’t absorb plant food well in wintertime , and feed when the ground is frozen can lead to fertilizer buildup and increase the chances of leaching and streamlet - off . This applies toliquid and most granular fertilizers ; however , it ’s entirely fine toapply compostor manure to barren wintertime garden . These materials take longer to better down into the grime than store - bought fertilizers and fresh manure can really burn plants if it ’s apply to gardens when plants are actively growing .
4. Mowing
Because grass stops growing when the priming coat freezes , there is mostly no demand to cut down your lawn in insensate weather . But if you did n’t get around tomowing your lawn in fallor you have a patch of overgrown grass that you ’d like to crop , it ’s still salutary to waitress until spring to bring out your lawnmower . Cutting grass in cold weather is more likely to damage the turf , and your lawnmower may not work as well when it develop cold .
4. Turning Compost
Contrary to pop belief , compost piles continue to break down in cold conditions , although the compost process slows . However , become compost in winter is not recommended as it reduces the temperature of compost wad and do the compost outgrowth to go even slower . you could , of course , continue to heapnitrogen and carbon - rich cloth onto your compost pileduring the winter months , but it ’s best to wait for warm weather to sour your compost .
6. Raking Up Leaves
Pollinators and other wildlife often overwinter in fallen leafage , andremoving leaf litterfrom your garden in crepuscule or winter can go out pollinator without a secure dormant spot . On top of that , foliage litter also insulate the grime and protects tender staunch and roots from winter damage . If there are still some leave in your prime beds when wintertime arrives , leave them in place until springtime to help oneself pollinators and keep your plant life roots warm .
7. Weeding
Weeding is n’t as important in winter as in other seasons since most pot degenerate their seeds in fall and end growing when temperature fall below freezing . That means that gardener can generally take a break from weeding when the earth is rooted . However , if you want to get a head commence on springtime weeding , you may practice mulch , weed barrier material , or several layers of composition board ornewspaper over skinny spotsafter the undercoat is frozen and make out away any weed seedheads that have n’t dropped their seeds .
Marty Baldwin
8. Storing Tools Outdoors
Winter weather can be voiceless on garden tools , so it ’s best to salt away them in your potting shed or garage until leaping . It ’s also a good thought to put away any outside decor that ’s made of uncertain concrete , terracotta , or glass andbring the shelling from your lawn mowerand other big businessman shaft indoors . Freezing temperatures and wet wintertime weather can stimulate permanent damage to all of these item .
9. Using Unheated Bird Baths
When the ground freezes , the H2O in unheatedbird bathswill also freeze down over and become inaccessible to thirsty birdie . But you may ensure that backyard shuttle have passel of water to booze throughout the winter by swapping out yourunheated bird bath for a het up oneor put in a solar - powered doll bath bullet .
10. Applying Herbicides or Pesticides
Whether you originate an organic garden or not , herbicides and pesticides of all sort do n’t influence well in moth-eaten weather . However , there ’s seldom a pauperism to practice these product in wintertime anyway since green goddess are dormant in wintertime and most dirt ball pests are n’t fighting at this time of the year . If you desire to forefend ongoing weed and pestilence issues , tally sess roadblock and mulch in winter , then rotate your harvest and installfloating run-in coverswhen the soil thaw .
Credit:Marty Baldwin
