Garden Winterizing Checklist
MAKING YOUR LIST
Make a checklist of tasks to start planning and executing in late summer and fall to ensure health of your garden for next season. Review our guide below!
PREPARE FOR FROST
Be prepared to protect tender plants
Have frost cloth for early freezes to protect vegetables
Lift and store summer bulbs like dahlias, begonias and gladiolus around the first time of frost. Store in a cool dry place. Check mid winter for shriveling, mist as needed.
Tender herbs, tropicals, and houseplants should be moved indoors before danger of frost. Ideally before temperatures reach mid 50’s. Examine for pests before bringing indoors and around other plants. Use a houseplant systemic/mosquito bits with enough time for them to start working before transporting indoors.
Thin barked trees and tender plants may need extra protection using tree guards, burlap, and Wilt Stop.
PLANTING
Plant last minute perennials and seeds as long as you can keep them watered.
As temperatures decrease you can plant fall bulbs and garlic. However, don’t wait for cooler weather to make your purchases as varieties will sell out. Store them in a cool dry place until soil temperatures are around 50-55 degrees, nighttime temperatures around 40-45 degrees. Plant within a few weeks to a month before the ground freezes.
FALL MAINTENANCE
Keep up with watering until the ground freezes. Consider using Caras Soil Elixir. Mortality of plants is much higher if plants that go dormant are dry.
Mow lawn as long grass will create brown patches.
Make sure trees and shrubs are protected from animals using trunk guards, cages, and repellants.
Consider a soil test to determine the right amendments, if needed
If moles and voles have been a problem during the winter, consider mitigations like repellents and barriers. Consult your local nursery or county extension center for tips regarding larger problems.
CLEANING UP FOR WINTER
Clear debris from the yard to maintain a tidy appearance, lower likelihood of pests and diseases, and inhibit growth of weeds for next season and remainder of this season
Some perennials enhance the habitat of beneficial creatures by creating spaces for them to overwinter so most of your effort should be towards noxious weeds.
Deadhead as needed. Some seed head provide seed for birds and other creatures to eat during the winter months. Leaving seeds on some perennials will encourage them to self sow. Cutback peonies and hostas, prune lavender shrubs so the plants do not get woody
Use compost, mulch, or straw around the garden beds to protect plant roots and enhance soil conditions. Make sure to use only organic on vegetable beds or anything you are consuming. Excess mulch/compost can be spread thinly on lawns as well. Once the ground freezes you can mulch tender plants like roses.
Clean leaves from yard and compost them unless infected with disease, anything with signs of fungus should be discarded.
Cover compost piles to trap warmth and reduce excess moisture.
Clean and maintain garden tools
Store any fertilizers and sprays away from freezing temperatures.
Clean and store pots, bird baths, and any non winter weather proof garden features to prevent damage
Automatic sprinklers should be blown out and cleaned before freezing temperature to prevent damage.
