By December, most gardeners have raked all their leaves, finished planting their spring bulbs and are preparing to patiently wait until spring to visit the garden again. If, however, you don't mind the snow or freezing temperatures you don't need to put all those tools away just yet. Winter can be a busy time for gardeners. Planning, of course, is important but there are a few other things which can be done as well which require
Here are a few gardening tips to help you get through winter.
Browse through all those gardening catalogs that are lying around or spend a little time online searching for the shrubs and flowers you'll plant during the upcoming season. First, however, plan your new garden or update your existing one.
Rework your garden design while the ground is frozen. Think about what was missing in the garden during the previous season. Also, walk though the garden and determine what could make the landscape more interesting during the winter months. Often, a large evergreen serving as an anchor or specimen shrub can improve a winter landscape. Deciduous shrubs and trees with winter berries, unique form or colorful bark can also provide the garden with winter interest.
Forethought is essential when planning a successful garden. After you've decided what you'd like your new garden to offer, begin a site analysis. Having a clear understanding of your site's conditions is important as it will enable you to make informed decisions regarding design and plant selection. Determine the following factors; climate & micro-climate, sun & shade conditions, wind exposure, soil composition and existing vegetation.
Plant hardiness zone maps divide the country into zones based on the lowest average winter temperature. A plant that is adapted to your hardiness zone is one that can tolerate the lowest winter temperature your zone typically experiences. Find out the zone in which you live and use it as guide during your plant selection process.
Along with the overall climate conditions of your area, micro-climates within your specific site also determine what is appropriate for your garden. A sunny spot against a brick wall with a southern exposure, for example, will be warmer than its surrounding environment. In a space such as this, plants which are borderline hardy have a better chance at survival than if planted elsewhere in the garden.
The canopy of the existing trees can protect plants by reducing their radiant heat loss. In winter, the micro-climate beneath a tree may be several degrees warmer than the surrounding air, this slight difference in temperature can be beneficial to some plants.
Being aware of the sun and shade conditions in your garden is critical to proper plant placement and, in turn, to the long term health of your plants. Improperly placed plants are a main reason for unnecessary transplants.
Getting to know the conditions of your site before you begin planning and planting can be the difference between success and disappointment. Properly planned gardens ensure the time you invest in you garden is worth it, as each properly placed plant thrives.
Another gardening chore which could be done during the winter is pruning deciduous trees and shrubs. During the winter, while there are no leaves on the trees, you're able to see more clearly a plant's branching structure. Prune any branches which are criss crossed or that are growing inward toward the trunk of the tree or shrub. Any upward pointing branches on a weeping plant should also be removed. When pruning, make your cuts slightly above the branch collar. Check on your evergreen shrubs after snow storms and shake off the snow if any has accumulated on the branches.
Check your perennial gardens for heaving, especially in areas prone to repeated freezing and thawing. Recycle your Christmas tree as garden mulch and don't forget to feed the birds and provide them with some unfrozen water. Remember to sharpen your tools so you'll be ready to get to work when the ground thaws.
Though you won't be planting new flowers and cultivating the soil, winter is the perfect time to prepare for next spring whether your preparing for new garden projects or out amongst the trees and shrubs pruning.
Even if your back yard is smaller than the smallest room of your house that does not mean that this is not a reason for you to leave it to its destiny, without attempting to perform some magical tricks. Landscaping homes and businesses is not that difficult if one can follow the following simple advice.
- Consider how you plan to use your garden. According to the ideas you have in mind, the landscape design of your outdoors' property has to be concluded. Regardless if the ideal garden space for you would be one that you could host barbecue parties with enough space for a children's pool, or you need a place in which you can relax while reading your favorite book and listening to soft tunes, your garden's design has to reflect your personal taste and be suitable for the uses you are thinking.
- If your land has flowerings and trees already planted in, do not be afraid to trim those flowering shrubs and trees that need it. Failure to prune is probably the biggest gardening mistake a person can make. If you make a mistake pruning, don't worry about it. It's like a bad haircut, it will grow out.
- If your garden or back yard has driveways and paths, then trimming the trees is only the first part of that equation. It is extremely important to create the right plant and building outcome so that your eyes move through the garden in accordance to how your body does. Screening undesirable views is a good idea, but occasionally screening a nice garden area can be of even more value in encouraging viewers to see what lies just around that bend in the path.
- Along with summer time comes high humidity. High humidity can cause a lot of problems with the plants in your garden and around your house. One of the simple things you can do is don't water just before dark. Make sure your plants are nice and dry when you tuck them in for the night and you can cut down of the chance fungus being a problem.
- One of the more common problems during summer is fungi that people seem to dread. Ask for an experts help and learn when you should buy a general fungicide you can spray with all your garden's plants if you would like to try and control the nasty situation from developing. Usually once the plant defoliates in the fall the plant is back to normal.
- Especially important during summer time is for you to think about how you move through the garden when maintaining it; beds should make mowing easier, not harder, hoses should have hose guides at the appropriate corners, beds should have stepping stones or the like to move amongst the plants without compacting soil, etc. The every day mechanics of maintaining the garden are often overlooked by professionals let alone the amateur designer, yet these small points become larger as you use the garden day in and day out. A little forethought can make your life a LOT easier down the road, and that's every time you work in the garden.
Both R Birch & Jonathon Hardcastle are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.