Preparing your Garden for Winter

When autumn nights start to get cold, it is time to prepare your garden for winter. Preparing your garden in the fall will not only make the gardens look better during the winter months, but will also make for easier work in the spring.

Before you start your preparations, take a moment to review what worked and what didn’t in your garden. Fall is an ideal time to move plants, plant bulbs, install perennials or trees and shrubs. This time of year is also great for dividing perennials. Division not only maintains the health of your perennials, but it’s also an easy way to propagate your plants so you will have more coverage next year.

Winter garden clean- up

Start your clean-up by removing weeds and spent annuals from your beds. For shrubs and trees, remove any diseased leaves, but leave pruning for the spring. Late fall pruning is not recommended. Pruning encourages new growth and you don’t want new growth to be damaged by the frost.

Winterizing your shrubs and trees

If you have any evergreens, consider wrapping them with burlap to protect them from the wind. If you have any shrubs that will be damaged by falling snow or ice, think about building wooden tee-pees for them. This will allow the snow to slide off the shrub and prevent them from being broken.

Cutting Back Perennials

Many perennials should be cut back to about 6 to 8 inches above the ground. Perennials with winter interest like grasses and Rudbeckia can be left. Anything with seed heads can provide food for the birds through the winter months. Perennials such as Artemisia, dianthus, Heliantheum and Heuchera should not be cut back in the fall. Many perennials look tired and messy during the winter and should be cut back. Prime examples of perennials to cut back are Alchemilla, Campanula, Coreopsis, Delphinium, Geranium, Hosta and Veronica.

Watering

It is a good idea to water your garden thoroughly prior to the ground freezing. Even with snow, winter can be very dry and harsh for many trees and shrubs, such as evergreens and rhododendrons, so it is best to provide them with a large supply of moisture before the extreme winter weather arrives.