Winter Gardening
Who Says There's No Gardening in Winter?
While there certainly isn't any gardening to be done outside, there are still some tasks you can do to help prepare your garden for spring, and your houseplants could always use a little TLC. So, don't despair. While you won't be doing much digging in the dirt this time of year, there is still plenty of gardening to be done.
Lawn-
Stay off the frozen grass! If the ground isn’t covered with snow then walking on the frozen grass can damage, and if repeated on the same path, kill your lawn.
Trees & Shrubs-
Keep heavy snow and ice off of the branches of your trees and shrubs. When your plants go dormant in the winter some become more brittle and too much weight can cause their branches to snap. Pruning trees generally can be done February /March weather dependent.
Perennials & Bulbs
Don’t worry if some of your spring bulbs had started to push out of the ground, for they will stop as the temperatures fall. The worst that will happen is some of the foliage tips may burn. If your perennial beds have not been mulched, then apply a layer of mulch. If you planted garlic in the late fall it is essential to apply Straw or mulch. It will help not only to prevent the thaw-freeze cycle that can lift the bulbs out of the ground but also help with weed suppression in the spring, as well as maintain even soil moisture.
Houseplants
Don’t neglect your houseplants. Wipe any dust off of the foliage of your plants with a damp cloth and be sure to use water that is room temperature. Any plants that are actively growing would benefit from being fed with a liquid fertilizer such as Bonide Liquid Plant Food or Neptune’s Harvest Organic Fish & Seaweed fertilizer. Only fertilize once a month though, because of slower growth rates in the winter. Be sure to protect your plants from any drafts and keep them away from heat sources as this will dry them out. To give the added humidity that they want, try placing a cup of water near them. Always keep your eye out for pests and treat with Bonide Insecticidal Soap, Eight at the first sign of their presence. Remember that watering correctly is very important. Wait until the soil is dry to the touch, then water the plant thoroughly so that the entire root mass and soil is remoistened. The best way to do this is to take the plant to the kitchen sink and water it until water comes out of the bottom of the pot. Let the pot drain and then put the plant back in place.
Those are just a few tips for winter gardening. Before you know it, you will be seeding indoors and prepping the garden beds with compost!
