What to do now to prepare your garden for winter

Harvest and cleanup as cool weather approaches A garden bed should be in your fall agenda.your garden may not be active We still have a lot of work to do now to produce over the winter. Get more excited for next season success. Taking the time to properly prepare your garden for dormancy means a better start to spring when it’s time to plant.

Harvest these before the first frost

Harvest all the delicate vegetables and seeds to button up this year’s crop. and choose herbs before the first frostIn cooler climates or higher altitudes, it is early in the season, but in warmer areas frost-free nights may last for an additional month or two.vegetable Pumpkin, tomato, lettuce, etc. It is not cold resistant and will rot when the temperature drops below freezing. However, some like Brussell sprouts, It can withstand some frost and is even tastier when harvested late in the season.

Once all the non-hardy vegetables have been safely harvested, the plants that produce them can be pulled and composted. A great way to be prepared. You can also pull weeds and clean your garden beds. Some gardeners prefer to leave fallen leaves on the ground as they can be a habitat for beneficial insects.

improve soil quality

Improving soil quality over the winter starts with adding compost to the beds in the fall. Allowing earthworms and insects to eat nutritious plants during the winter helps add nutrients to the soil while the plants are dormant. is to grow what are known as ‘cover crops’ in beds of grass. Using seeds that add nitrogen to the soil is a good way to replenish lost nutrients and keep the soil healthy. Clover, rye in winterAlso Vetch A good candidate for autumn and winter planting. Cover crops not only improve the soil, they also keep weeds at bay.

If you do not use cover crops, we recommend covering your garden beds in the winter. burlap landscaping fabriccover the area of ​​the garden that you plan to replant next year and stake out the edges. landscaping staples.TThe fabric and staples are reusable, so you don’t have to get a new set every season.

attract birds

in the In the fall, you might also consider filling feeders with water or cleaning and watering bird baths to attract birds. Birds stock up for winter. And with enough food, they can get along just fine. Birds are a big part of the garden ecosystem because they love to eat caterpillars, grasshoppers and other harmful pests. should be cleaned regularly..

avoid ice damage

Finally, remember to turn off and drain all outdoor watering systems before temperatures drop below freezing to avoid damage.Storing winter hoses and tubes will help your watering system last longer. . Also, empty containers should be emptied and turned over or stored to avoid cracking in freezing temperatures.