How To Take Care Of Your Garden, And Protect It From The Winter Elements

 

By Cynthia Taylor

 

With winter fast approaching your garden need to be prepared for the cold months of the year. Depending on what you have in your garden will determine what needs to be done. If you just have an ornamental garden with flowers then you probably need to just some clean up and covering up to protect against frost, if you have a vegetable garden you will probably have to remove plants that are no longer producing vegetables.

 

Look over your garden and see if there are any blackened foliage or stems, remove or cut back to prevent insect eggs and disease pathogens over the winter period.

 

Some plants have a natural progress as winter approaches to go into dormancy. It might look as if your garden has stopped all activity, but you would be surprised to find that there is still a lot going on underneath the soil. Earth worms and the microbes in the soil continue to process the soul. Any newly planted shrubs and trees will continue to draw nutrients from the soil. If you have perennials and hardy bulbs they will also continue growing roots.

 

Any organic mulch that you put down for summer will probably have already decomposed. To prepare for winter you need to put down a new layer of mulch and this should be a thicker layer than your summer mulch, this is to protect your plants over the cold months. A good mulch layer helps to keep the temperature even rather than keep the soil warm.

 

Leaves from shade trees that drop in fall are perfect for converting into mulch, place the mulch round the plants to help protect them from cold and frost.

 

Vulnerable trees, shrubs and plants that will not be able to withstand the cold weather will need more than just mulch, they will need hessian or frost netting as a covering over them to protect them from the harsh elements.

 

The benefits of using a mulch over winter

 

• A good layer of mulch prevents evaporation of water, which therefore conserves more water

• Mulch also prevents weed growth because it blocks out the sunlight which is needed for germination

• Roots are protected from frost

• Earthworms need mulch as a vital source of food

• Use your leaves as a mulch, saves time and a natural protector of the soil

• Mulch also supports the insect life which is good for your garden birds

 

Watering your garden during winter

 

• Watering of lawns should be done ever two or three weeks

• Indigenous plants that need less water ever 8 weeks if necessary, if they show signs of stress then water them. Dont over water plants in winter

• Plants that require moderate water usage once a month is sufficient

• If you are in the Highveld or a dry winter area of the country less water is needed and there is low evaporation at this time.

 

Plants that only last one season are called annuals, they need to be dug up and thrown away after they have finished flowering and are beginning to die out.

 

Prepare the lawn for winter, rake up any leaves, and 'scratch' the lawn with the rake, and also remove any fertiliser from the lawn.

 

Autumn is the perfect time to plant any trees, roses or shrubs, this allows the plants to build a good root system before spring.

 

Check your walls, or fences and see if any needs repairing, check your paving and when there is a dry spell that the perfect time to fix with cement.

 

Wooden garden furniture should get a coat of chemical preservative or an oil for protection from the worse of winter weather.

 

Good preparation for winter, gives the garden a chance to renew itself for the spring and summer months.