Prepare Your Winter Garden with These 13 Essential Tasks as Autumn Ends
Want to get a head start on your next garden season? Here are 13 tasks to accomplish this fall and winter to set your garden up for success:
- Take away temporary trellises, like tomato cages, to clear up space in your garden for fall and early spring projects. Store them in a sheltered area if necessary.
- If you plan to rotate crops, now's a good time to relocate trellises to their new locations for the upcoming season.
- Disconnect and store your drip or soaker hoses for the winter, especially if you live in a colder climate. In milder climates, you can dry and roll up the hoses to store outside.
- Empty containers and store them in a sheltered location if they're not needed for fall crops. Empty soil from containers into one bin and mix in new soil in the spring. Don't forget to clean them with a 10% bleach solution.
- Plant your garlic, making sure to select a location that won't be frozen during the winter months, as it takes up space in your garden until early summer.
- Mulch your perennial herbs depending on your climate zone, as some herbs, like rosemary, thyme, lavender, and sage, may need mulch or protection in colder areas. Use fine gravel, sand, or pine needles to prevent trapping water at the base of the herbs.
- Getting a soil test is important, as it can provide insights into the nutrient content and pH levels of your soil. This allows you to make informed decisions about amendments needed for next growing season.
- If you know where your early spring crops will be, go ahead and amend the soil with organic matter or fertilizers now so that your crops have a nutrient-rich foundation when planted in the spring.
- Save and organize your seeds by gathering them all, drying them, and storing in a container like the one from this container. By doing this, you'll have an easy-to-access collection of seeds for spring planting.
- Organize your garden supply area by going through your supplies and getting rid of old or damaged items, as well as replacing any necessary tools.
- Clean, sharpen, and oil your garden tools to ensure they are ready to use for the upcoming gardening season.
- Take inventory of your seeds, making a list of how many seeds you have. This can help you plan your planting and determine when to order more seeds.
- Take a walk around your garden and make notes about last year's garden to help you plan for the upcoming season. Reflect on what worked well and what could be improved for next time.
Which tasks are you planning to focus on this fall and winter to prepare for next spring's garden? Let us know and share any gardening tips or tricks you're excited to try!
- You might find a garden podcast enjoyable while organizing your garden tools and garden printables for next season, enhancing your home-and-garden lifestyle.
- Preparing a garden planner can help you strategize your gardening projects for the upcoming season, considering rotation of crops and early spring crops planting.
- To ensure your garden is flourishing next year, consider implementing the tasks like soil testing, amending the soil with organic matter or fertilizers, and saving and organizing your seeds from this year's growth.
