10 Winter Garden Activities to Help Pass the Off-Season

Photo credit: iStock/Alex Raths

10 Winter Gardening Activities to Help Pass the Off-Season  

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Nancy DeVault to Garden, Lifestyle
https://farmflavor.com/lifestyle/garden/winter-gardening-activities-to-help-pass-the-off-season/

Winter oftentimes brings a lull to lush gardens, but that doesn’t mean gardeners have to freeze all gardening activities during the season. From planning and maintenance to creative projects and skill-building, there are countless ways to keep plant passions in full bloom. Here’s a round-up of winter gardening activities to keep you busy until springtime.  

1. Evaluate Your Garden

Winter can be the ideal time to evaluate your garden’s performance over the past few seasons. Ponder 
what worked well and identify areas for improvement. Were there particular plants that thrived or unexpected issues with pests? Did you notice that you harvested an abundance of one type of vegetable and not enough of another?

Design (or redesign with lessons learned) a garden layout for the upcoming season. Whether you map out a plan via pen and paper or an app, strive to optimize your garden space.

 2. Start a Gardening Journal

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You know the common philosophy of “write what you’re passionate about?” Well, if you’re passionate about plants, start a gardening journal. The act of journaling in and of itself is beneficial, especially for one’s mental health, but a gardening journal can also serve as an action-oriented chronicle. Document planting dates, harvest yields and potential challenges, as well as your gardening goals for the future.

3. Start an Indoor Garden

 Photo credit: iStock/Yin Yang

Your happy place may be your outdoor garden during warmer months, but growing plants indoors can help ward off winter blues. Perhaps you’d benefit from an indoor herb garden conveniently placed on the windowsill of your kitchen. Go-to herbs like basil, thyme, parsley and mint can add a fresh element to seasonal stews and soups. Check out a few of the best herbs to grow in your windowsill and our indoor gardening guide for ideas. You can also maximize indoor gardening with microgreens. Experiment with nutrient-packed greens such as arugula, pea and radish microgreens, which grow quickly and can be harvested in just a few weeks.

4. Grow Houseplants

Photo credit: iStock/Christian Steinsworth

From hanging greenery to potted succulents, many garden enthusiasts incorporate houseplants into home décor, especially during wintertime. In addition to infusing natural, calming pops of color, research suggests this decorating choice boasts significant wellness benefits because houseplants can remove harmful air toxins to achieve a healthier environment.

Common houseplants include anthurium, peace lily, pothos neon, rubber plant, snake plant, tufted air plant, yucca cane and others. However, it’s important for pet owners to note that some plants are poisonous to pets, so do your research beforehand. See more: How to Care for Air Plants: A Complete Guide 

5. Do a Maintenance Check

 Photo credit: iStock/HT-Pix

Garden tools are a worthwhile investment and properly maintaining them is important. Winter may be the time to show your tools a little TLC. A few tasks to consider:

• Clean and sharpen blades. Remove dirt and sap from pruners, shears and shovels. A sharp blade makes gardening more efficient and protects plants from damage.

• Oil metal parts. This prevents rusting and prolongs the life of your tools.

• Organize your garden shed. Take inventory of your supplies and make a list of items to replace or restock.

• Repair fences and trellises. Strengthen support or repaint them to prevent weather damage.

6. Level Up Your Garden

Photo credit: iStock/Mkovalevskaya

Use winter months to work on improving garden infrastructure, such as building raised beds. Construct
new beds, then fill them with soil and compost come early spring and get growing. You can also spend the off season making plans for expanding your garden next season, such as ordering seeds you’ve never tried growing or learning how to grow a cut-flower bed.

See more: How to Compost

7. Focus on Soil Health

Winter is the perfect time to work on improving the health of your soil. Consider the following tasks:

• Test your soil. Winter is a great time to send a soil sample to a lab or use a DIY soil test kit. Understanding your soil’s pH and nutrient levels helps you prepare for spring planting.

Photo credit: iStock/tortoon

• Maintain your compost pile. Insulate it with straw or leaves to keep it active. If freezing temperatures halt decomposition, continue adding organic material, which will break down once the weather warms.

• Start a worm bin indoors. Vermicomposting is an efficient way to recycle kitchen scraps into rich, fertile compost for your garden.

See more: Soil 101: Why Is Your Garden’s Soil Health So Important?

 8. Prune Perennials

Photo credit: iStock/Olga Seifutdinova

Winter pruning improves the health of many plants and prepares them for vigorous growth in spring.

• Prune deciduous trees and shrubs. With the leaves gone, the structure of the plant is visible, making it easier to identify dead or crossing branches.

• Cut back perennials. Trim spent stems and foliage to tidy up the garden and reduce hiding spots for pests. Leave plants with seed heads, like coneflowers, for birds to enjoy.

• Protect tender plants. Mulch heavily or wrap sensitive plants, like roses, in burlap to shield them from harsh winter conditions.

See more: 11 Things You Can Grow in Your Winter Garden

9. Grow Your Gardening Knowledge

Photo credit: iStock/Mercedes Rancaño Otero

Winter offers extra time to dive into gardening education. Consider reading gardening books, magazines or blogs. Learn about new techniques or dive deeper into topics like organic pest control, native plants and more. Many gardening groups and organizations also host virtual events during winter. Look for local classes, online workshops or webinars to join. Or simply ask the experts. Pop into a garden shop and pick the brain of the nursery’s horticulturist. You never know what will bloom from a friendly conversation with a fellow garden devotee.

10. Get Creative

Photo credit: iStock/Oksana Aksenova

Winter is a good time for creative gardening-related crafts. When inspiration strikes:

• Make plant markers. Paint or engrave markers for spring planting.

• Create birdhouses or bee hotels. These can be installed in your garden to encourage pollinators and other beneficial wildlife.

• Repurpose old materials. Turn pallets into vertical planters or use jars for seed storage.

• Step up your stepping stones. A fun and functional creation can be a step in the right direction for gardeners.

By tackling these winter gardening activities and more, you can prepare for a thriving spring garden while enjoying this season’s unique opportunities. Happy gardening!