If you prepare your garden properly, winter becomes a beautiful season of hibernation that is well worth the wait come spring. But to ensure your perennials will come back with all the color and fervor they can, here are some tips to get your garden ready.
First, be sure to clean up any dead stems and foliage of annuals and vegetables. This is crucial to preventing any diseases from harboring. Gather all of the fallen leaves as soon as possible to add to your compost, or start a new one. Smaller pieces decompose faster, so try mowing over leaves before gathering and adding to your compost. Consider saving branches and vines for natural decor and wreaths during the holiday season.
Fertilize any young trees and shrubs. At this time, it is also beneficial to till the soil to discourage weeds in the spring. Next, you’ll want to spread a thick layer of mulch to provide protection for soil and plants.
The layer of mulch acts like a thermos. This is important because when the soil freezes you want it to stay frozen. It’s the freezing and thawing and then freezing again that can damage plants and rob soil of its nutrients. It’s best to wait until the first frost to lay down this mulch to ensure no rodents are nesting within the soil.
For your mulch, it’s recommended to use evergreen boughs on bulb beds to keep soil from shifting and shallow plants from upheaving. For beds and perennials, chopped leaves and pine needles are best.
If you are moving any plants indoors, let them acclimate to temperatures slowly by keeping them in a shed or garage for a few days first. Finally, it’s time to clean garden tools thoroughly, including your hose. Store them away in a safe, dry place until spring.
If landscaping becomes a chore, let the experienced team at Lifescape Colorado help you care for your yard and garden all year long.