Some of you, at the end of the gardening season, are so ready to be done and put your tools away. However, placing your garden to rest for the winter is planting the best seed for success in the next year. Help your garden thrive, not just survive, with these few tips to get ready for next spring...
Clean Up – Leave seeded flower stems for winter food and places for native bees to overwinter. If it’s healthy, not only are you allowing all of the remaining energy left in the plant to feed the roots, but you are also providing valuable habitat for many of our native pollinators. They will use these structures to overwinter, perhaps having already laid their larvae within the stems. Structures from grasses and other hollow-stemmed perennials are especially valuable. Old vines provide places for insects and diseases to hide. Throw away plants that are suspect for bugs and disease to avoid passing them on to the next season. Designate an area for a compost pile if you don’t already have one. Add what you can to the compost pile or leave as mulch on the soil.
Soil Testing – This is a great time to get your soil analyzed because if you find out now that your soil needs amended, you can apply it in the fall so that it has all winter to work its way into the soil.
Cover Crop – In some areas of your garden you might consider planting a cover crop. They improve soil fertility, structure, water retention, and suppress annual winter weeds. 
Clean Up – Leave seeded flower stems for winter food and places for native bees to overwinter. If it’s healthy, not only are you allowing all of the remaining energy left in the plant to feed the roots, but you are also providing valuable habitat for many of our native pollinators. They will use these structures to overwinter, perhaps having already laid their larvae within the stems. Structures from grasses and other hollow-stemmed perennials are especially valuable. Old vines provide places for insects and diseases to hide. Throw away plants that are suspect for bugs and disease to avoid passing them on to the next season. Designate an area for a compost pile if you don’t already have one. Add what you can to the compost pile or leave as mulch on the soil.
Soil Testing – This is a great time to get your soil analyzed because if you find out now that your soil needs amended, you can apply it in the fall so that it has all winter to work its way into the soil.
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| Crimson Clover Cover Crop |
Leaves – Rake fallen leaves into areas of the garden that do not have a cover crop. Leaves can be used as a mulch in vegetable gardens, flower beds, and around shrubs and trees. Leaves rot very quickly and you will be surprised how many you can work into your soil. Leaf mulch encourages beneficial earthworms, soil microbes, and overwintering bumblebees. They are also a great compost addition.
Tools – Clean up your tools before storing them. A wire brush can help get the dirt off and oil can maintain the metal parts to keep from rusting.
Garden Journaling –
Keep adding notes to your journal so you can keep track of your successes or what you could have done better, what you might want to try again or simply remove from the list.
Tools – Clean up your tools before storing them. A wire brush can help get the dirt off and oil can maintain the metal parts to keep from rusting. Garden Journaling –
Keep adding notes to your journal so you can keep track of your successes or what you could have done better, what you might want to try again or simply remove from the list. Tend your crops in your cold frames - carrots, lettuce, spinach, etc. Easy Peasy!
Now relax, close your eyes, dream about spring, and await those seed and gardening catalogs!
