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Winterizing Your Garden: 5 Tips for Putting Your Urban Garden to Bed

By Jessie Parker

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 24Oct2009 Word count: 766 Viewed: 271 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

It's that time of year again, at least in the Northern Hemisphere . Winter is coming and it is time to get your garden snuggled down and there is much to do.

1. Clean Up Your Garden. Fungus, and mildew problems will overwinter in most winter climates, even very cold ones. The fungus and mildew which usually looks like white powdery coating on leaves , starts to show up by August and through the Fall. In the spring, the plants, bushes may look healthy, but the damage is "hiding" ready to reappear. To avoid this year's problems again next year, it is essential to get rid of all the damaged leaves. That means rake them up thoroughly, and dispose of them in garbage bags or compost bags. Do NOT put them in your compost ! The mildew, and fungus spores will overwinter and spread again via the compost next year. Also any leaves left on the ground will overwinter the spores, which will start to multiply all over again in the Spring. Cut down perennials that grow from the ground in spring, except ornamental grasses, allowing stems to poke up through the snow. Annuals roots can be left in the ground to decompose over winter and nourish the soil.

2. Water Your Trees and Shrubs. If you do nothing else, at least do this. Your trees and shrubs , including evergreens, need water right up to when the ground freezes for the winter. This will usually be right up to the end of October, but may be as late as early December, to encourage the roots to grow. The roots are not actually dormant, and still actively grow all winter. Watering should be weekly, depending on weather. A long slow, deep watering is way better than a quick once over. Small amounts each day is not good as this encourages shallow rooting, making the tree susceptible to future drought and frost damage. On the other hand over-watering can cause the roots to rot. A moisture meter gadget is handy to tell how wet the soil is, so you don't go too far over or under. Sandy soil will require more frequent watering than clay, as the water drains through it faster. Heavy clay soils can get waterlogged .

3. Protect Your Young Trees from Critters. Young trees just planted this year will require special attention this autumn, to overwinter successfully, that is, to survive and be healthy next year. Deciduous trees will need winter wrap material (the white plastic spiral kind is good)around their trunks to discourage rabbits, raccoons, deer and other critters that love to lunch on the tender bark. It is good to continue winter wrapping annually for several years until the trunk is about 3 inches (7cm) thick.

4. Protect Young Trees From Strong Winds. Of course it is always wise to plant trees in areas protected from strong winds, especially if they are ornamental in nature. But this is not always possible. When your young tree is trying to get established, it needs some help with fighting those cold winter winds. Pound a T-bar metal stake into the ground beside the young tree facing the tree, but with its "back" toward the strongest winds, usually NW of the tree stem.. . If the area is very windy, you may even need 2 stakes opposite each other, or 3 stakes arranged in a triangle. Observe your wind patterns to determine what you need. Evergreen shrubs (cedars, junipers, and the like) will need burlap covering the first year or so, to protect from winds, and sunburn, especially the Southwest. Do not bind too tightly: leave some air to circulate. Once they have toughened up a few years , wean them off the burlap, and just use wind string round and round starting at the bottom and up to the top. Plastic netting is also good to protect from freezing rain.

5. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch . Your garden surface needs protection around small and large shrubs, trees and large perennials to lessen the freeze/thaw cycle damage. Mulch is like an insulating blanket. Using bark mulch, usually cedar or pine, several inches all over the garden ground is very effective. Only use leaves, crunched up , if they are free of disease, mildew and fungus. Pine needles are good for acid loving plants, like rhododendrons. Of course, fluffy snow is excellent, but you can't depend on getting enough or the right kind. When you get enough ,mound it up around trees and shrubs, as it insulates, too.

Now sit back and enjoy your winter garden !

Watch for more gems of wisdom about urban gardening in future articles.

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