We’re officially entering the winter season, where your once-green garden turns dormant and rests until Spring. But just because there’s less growth, doesn’t mean it’s not an important time for your plants. And if you want your garden to thrive come springtime, there are some essential garden tasks you should follow before the first frost hits.
When the first frost of the year will take place for you will depend on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone, but the steps you should take for preparation remain the same. I asked gardening experts for the key advice every gardener should know ahead of the first frost.
“Even though growth slows or stops for many plants, neglecting the garden during these months can lead to problems such as pest infestations, disease buildup and soil degradation,” says Petar Ivanov, Fantastic Gardeners' gardening and plant expert. “Clearing fallen leaves, removing diseased plant material, and mulching and protecting tender plants will prevent overwintering pests and fungal infections while insulating the roots and preserving soil structure.”
Here’s what he, and other experts, recommend.
Clean up and cut back
Cutting back old growth is the key to creating healthier, happier plants.
"Once the frost hits, most people forget about their garden until early spring, but dormancy shouldn't mean neglect," says Amy McCord, Founder and CEO of Flower Moxie. "It's all about preservation to maximize the upcoming year and set your flowers and plants up for success. Additionally, it's more aesthetically pleasing to have a clean garden for the winter months."
"Decaying foliage attracts mold and pests, so it's best to pull out and cut back anything that isn't evergreen," says McCord.
So break out your best pruning shears and get stuck in, cutting back dead flower heads to prevent mold and pests. Doing this will also prevent your plants from wasting energy attempting to support foliage that will inevitably die when the frost hits, anyway.
When you’re done, your yard should look neat and clean, making it less attractive to pests and less prone to mold.
Time to insulate
When the weather turns, I get the urge to snuggle up in a blanket and hibernate. And your plants want the same treatment! The most important place to worry about is the roots of your plants. These need to be protected from the harsh weather, as they ensure the stability of your plants’ long-term health throughout fluctuating weather.
That’s why we mulch.
"A freshly mulched flower bed not only looks attractive,” says McCord, “it's very practical insulation for the roots when it comes to deep freezes and regulates soil temperatures."
How best to mulch? “I add compost to all my beds, water deeply, and turn them before adding a thick, index finger deep layer of mulch,” says Lindsey Chastain of Waddle and Cluck. “This layer will help protect my beds from winter weather and keep the soil from eroding.”
Mulching also has the added benefit of protecting the essential insect life in your yard. “It also gives the good bugs a place to overwinter so they are ready when I plant in the spring,” says Chastain. “The compost plus the nutrients added to the soil from the mulch breaking down will give me healthy soil come spring planting time.”
Save your seeds
The third step involves taking action to ensure the long-term success of your yard. And best of all, it’s free! By harvesting and drying blooms, you can preserve the seeds from your flowers and plant them again when spring rolls around.
"Garden and floral enthusiasts often cut blooms like hydrangeas, celosia, zinnias, and strawflower to serve as dried floral decor and to save the seeds for next year's propagation," says McCord.
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