Essential Winter Gardening Jobs To Keep Your Space Healthy This Season
Winter may be a quieter time for gardeners, but things should not have come to a complete stop. Although this may not always be the best season to be outdoors and get your hands dirty, there are several winter gardening jobs that your landscape can greatly benefit from.
The work you do in your garden now will pay off come spring and help you maintain the high standards you’ve worked all year to achieve.
Creative Gardens & Driveways is your premier landscaping partner all year long, and with our guidance, you can keep your space thriving this season. In this guide, we are sharing the top winter gardening jobs you should be doing if you want to keep your space healthy this season.
Winter Pruning
Many plants enter their dormant period during the winter, making it an ideal time to prune and shape them to your liking.
As the plants are not going to grow much over the next few weeks or months, you can use this time to cut back the pesty branches and shape your hedges so they will be ready to thrive come spring.
Winter pruning not only helps with the appearance of your trees and shrubs, but these winter gardening jobs also support the health of your landscape. By removing any dead, diseased or damaged branches you are allowing more room and energy for healthy regrowth come spring so you can expect a more vibrant landscape next year.
Protecting Plants From The Cold
The freezing temperatures of winter are hard for many of us to bear and our gardens suffer just the same. This is why protecting your plants is one of the most important winter gardening jobs and should be done as early in the season as possible to prevent damage.
Using either mulch or protective blankets, you can shield your plants from the cold and help them stay safe this season.
Mulch is a cheap and effective tool to maintain soil temperature and moisture, and should be done across your flower beds and pots – even if the plants are not currently growing. This can help keep any bulbs or roots safe this season, allowing them to regrow when the weather warms up.
Freeze barriers, such as horticultural fleece, row covers, or cloches, can keep any tall or growing plants warm during even the coldest temperatures and prevent them from failing during the season. These need to be kept secure with garden wire or string. When adding protective barriers to plants make sure they are not weighing the stems down.
Repair And Prepare Soil
A great portion of winter gardening jobs are focused on the future and the ways you can get your garden ready for the upcoming spring. This is why you should use this time to repair and prepare your soil for any new growth you want next season.
The soil may need to be treated to repair any damage left over from the spring or summer, as well as prepared to ensure healthier growth in the future. You can determine what your soil needs and the best methods to care for it by testing the pH and nutrient level.
Using this information, you can then add the nutrients needed to get your soil back up to scratch and ensure healthy growth for new plants in spring. Doing the test first not only makes this job easier, but cheaper to do as you will only be using what you truly need.
Wildlife Support
Our plants are not the only things that need additional support in winter, as local wildlife will be struggling in the cold too. This is why our winter gardening jobs include caring for wildlife and adding habitats, food and water to your landscape this season.
Birds, insects, pollinators and other creatures like hedgehogs look for food and shelter during the winter and your garden could become a safe hub for them. The smallest thing can make such a difference and help support local ecosystems.
Adding bird feeders and a bird bath to your garden can make such a difference to the environment this season, helping our feathered friends stay healthy this season. It can also create a beautiful display of wildlife that you can enjoy from the comfort, and warmth, of your home.
Conclusion
At Creative Gardens & Driveways, we believe that each season offers unique chances to bring out the best in your garden – and winter is no exception. Winter can be a beautiful but difficult time for our gardens, which is why additional support may be needed during this time.
With these winter gardening jobs, you can prepare your outdoor space for the cold temperatures and ensure it has a vibrant revival come spring.
Contact Us Today
To get started on your garden transformation or to learn more about what we do, please contact the team today.