Winter for the avid gardener can mean a time of slowing down and relaxing. A few clean up and winterizing steps, before winter arrives, can make the difference in a successful garden or not in the  springtime next year. Preparing garden plants for the upcoming dormancy will require some time set aside to “close up shop” for the season.

General Cleanup and Maintenance
Garden tools and equipment should be a part of your winterization program. To ensure they are ready to use in the springtime, each one should be cleaned, sharpened, and receive a light coat of oil to prevent  rust.

Bring in any garden accessories such as stakes, weed control netting, plant guards, watering hoses, drip irrigation, and plant containers for winter storage. Any garden decor that is not designed to withstand harsh weather should also be moved indoors.

Geographic Location
Your geographic location and the severity of your winter months will determine how you need to address winter preparation of your different garden plant varieties. Below we will give you winterizing information regarding annual flowers, perennial flowers, flower bulbs, trees and shrubs.

Winterizing Annual Flowers                    
In cool climates where frost occurs, many annual flowers will die. These need to be removed and discarded to your compost bin . Some very hardy annual flowers however can be planted in the autumn. In moderate climate zones, annuals will bloom in the spring. In locations where a warm climate exists during the winter, hardy annuals will provide blooms.

Many people enjoying their annuals as house plants through the winter by taking cuttings and transplanting them as house plants. A few of these that can be enjoyed this way include geraniums, impatiens, and coleus.

Winterizing Flower Bulbs
If the ground freezes where you live, it’s best to remove flower bulbs in the fall, store indoors, and replant in the spring. Most bulbs need to be dug up at the time of the first frost and should be completely removed before the first heavy frost. If not removed , damage to the bulbs could occur.

To store flower bulbs, gently remove them from the ground, brush off any excess dry soil but keep a good amount of soil around the roots. Be sure they are dry and place them in sand or peat moss. Label each variety and store in a dark, dry, location that will not fall below 50 degrees farenheight

Winterizing Perennial Flowers
Perennial flowers should be cut back, but be sure to wait until the growing season is completely over. If they are cut back too soon, a chance of new growth could occur which could possibly lead to winterkill.Some plants such as lavender should not be cut back until early spring to avoid new growth before winter. A general rule is to cut back perennial flowers 2-3 inches in warm climates, otherwise cut back to 3-4 inches above the ground.

Winterizing Trees
Newly planted trees of two years or less are susceptible to sunscalding that occurs when ice and frost forms, thaws during the day and refreezes quickly at night. This causes the bark to crack and could possibly become diseased. For prevention, wrap the bark with tree wrap from the ground to the first branches. This will also help protect against the problem of deer and rodents that chew on the bark.

Winterizing Shrubs
Shelter and water are the two key elements for winterizing shrubs. Make sure outdoor shrubs are well watered when winter approaches. Shrubs that are not considered hardy or newly planted shrubs should have some shelter from harsh winds, ice, and snow. Chickenwire held in place with stakes placed around the shrub and filled with leaves serves as excellent protection. Burlap wrapped loosely around plants also works well.

Wind protection for a group of shrubs can easily be constructed using a row of stakes wrapped with burlap to form a windscreen.

Outdoor container shrubs should first be acclimated to indoors for the winter months. First move them into the shade for a few weeks rather than from their bright sunlit outdoor location directly indoors. This will allow them to adjust to lower light levels. When brought indoors, they should  be placed in a window with bright light. Reduce watering and fertilizing throughout the winter months.
                                                                                                                                       
With a minimum amount of time spent in the fall, winterizing your garden will give you a head start in preparing your plants, shrubs, and trees for the next springtime planting and growing season.

Best of Luck and Happy Gardening !

And now it's time to rest !