Tips for Preparing Your Garden

It's that time of year again to prepare your garden for the winter. To ensure that your garden and flower beds will be ready for the spring, start by cleaning up dead or diseased foliage, removing debris, leaves, stakes and row markers, dead roots, and any fruits and vegetables that may be spoiled. You may add the debris to your compost but do not throw any diseased or parasite infected waste into the compost. This could potentially spread the disease to your garden next year so you'll want to either throw it away or burn it. Make sure you get rid of any dead growth you may have on your perennials so they're ready to come back up in the spring. Taking these measures will prepare your flower beds and garden for new growth in the spring and it will avert winter pests.

The grass underneath all those fallen leaves is still green and needs the daylight to prepare for the colder weather. It is also important to let air and water get to the grass and other living plants so that they don't suffocate throughout the winter. You can shred the leaves and use them as mulch on your flower beds. You don't want to mulch too thickly or too early in the winter. Too much mulch can smother your shrubs and trees and cause them to die. Six inches of an organic material is ideal. Homemade or organic materials such as compost, manure, and cottonseed meal will help to improve the long term health of your soil. Wait until the ground freezes so that you don't provide winter shelter for mice and other rodents. Aside from averting winter pests taking these steps will also enhance the quality of your soil.

Fall is also the best time to plant shrubs, trees, perennials, and any other bulbs that you want to blossom in the spring. Because the soil is warm and the weather is cold any plants placed in the fall have the freedom to give their attention and energy to establishing strong roots. It is important that you make sure to add these plants before the soil gets too cold. Your plants will be much stronger and look better once they bloom in the spring.

Cleaning your tools and putting them in order for the spring is also essential. Once you are finished winterizing your garden prepare your tools by sharpening, cleaning, and oiling them. Your hoses should be neatly coiled and stored with your other tools in a dry place to prevent rusting and cracking.