Top 5 Wintertime Gardening Tips

Some of you may be tempted to leave the lawn and garden behind with the first frost. But, there's really no need to abandon the cause. There's plenty to do throughout the year to keep your lawn and garden in top shape, ready for spring. For example, there's no better time to inspect your lawn and garden for signs of trouble or possibility. By the time the brush clears, you can get a better eye on what's working in your lawn and garden, and what needs to be changed. Winter is also a great time to prep your lawn, garden and planting beds for spring. Gardening is much easier in winter time when you don't have so much greenery, vines, and brush to navigate.

What can you do from December through Spring to keep your lawn and garden in tip top form? Check out these Top 5 Winter Time Gardening Tips. Sure to make your lawn and garden ready for a "picture perfect" spring fling.

1. Prune bushes and perennials. Winter, especially after the first freeze, is a great time to prune bushes and plants that have over grown beds and containers. Waiting until after the first freeze protects bushes and plants from pests and worse.

2. Dig up dead plants, bushes and trees. Waiting until well after the leaves have dropped makes removing dead plants, bushes or trees much easier than dealing with ones that are still covered in leaves.

3. Check yard for signs of erosion. Sometimes waiting until the brush clears can help you identify where soil erosion has happened. Winter is a great time to address these areas by positioning rocks in a strategic way to offset water and soil run off. Keep in mind, you can get great deals on garden rocks, stones and mulch throughout the winter months.

4. Check yard for holes. Sometimes waiting until winter makes it much easier to spot holes in the yard. Fill holes with dirt and humus, or whatever it takes to rebuild nature's bounty. Sometimes it takes a few months to get the fill just right.

5. General garden clean up. Winter's a great time to rake pine needles, pine cones, leaves and sticks from garden beds and the yard. You can also prep beds for winter by positioning leaves around treasured plants and bushes, and restock beds with garden mulch, humus or dirt, as needed.

LAWN & GARDEN RESOURCES

Five Quick Ways to Jumpstart Your Garden for Spring
By Mary G. Hardiman for Associated Content

Top 5 Books on Organic Lawn Care
By Mary G. Hardiman for Associated Content

Community Gardens
www.communitygarden.org

Martha Stewart Home & Garden
www.marthastewart.com/home-and-garden