Teg Blog & News

While it is easy to consider gardening a spring and summer activity, it is what you do in the fall and winter that really makes a difference. There are many things that can be done to prepare your garden and perennials during these cold months. In addition to preparations, there are plants that grow during the winter while other plants can be moved or pruned during their dormant time. 

We have prepared a list of tasks that can be done in your garden during the fall and winter that will give you stunning results come spring. 

Clean Out the Garden

Whether we are talking about vegetable gardens or flower beds, fall is the time of year to do a cleanup of the garden. If you have any annuals in the garden this is the time to remove them. This type of plant won’t come back next year and is taking up valuable soil nutrients if left into late fall. 

Another reason to get started with a garden and flower bed clean up in the fall is to beat the winter weather. Once the ground becomes hard with the cold it will be difficult and even impossible to clear out old plants and till the ground for the next season. 

Let Cold Weather Plants Mature

There are vegetables that taste better when they are allowed to mature during the first few light touches of frost. These vegetables are planted in late summer in order to grow properly and taste their best. This means that some fall gardening tasks are tending to and harvesting these vegetables. The vegetables that can be grown in early fall and harvested in late fall or early winter are some fairly common foods. 

• Lettuce
• Kale
• Parsnips
• Carrots
• Beets
• Swiss Chard

Plant Trees & Shrubs

Once these plants have been grown and harvested you can sow some winter cover crops to protect your soil during the colder months. 

The fall and winter months are the best time for planting trees and shrubs because the roots have time to become healthy before the heat of the summer. Planting should only happen either in the fall/winter or the early spring for healthy root growth. 

Fall and winter are also the perfect time of year to move plants. If you want to move that blackberry bush to a different part of the yard, then the fall is the time to do that. The plant is dormant and is less likely to sustain damage in the move. 

Water

This is a dormant period for many plants, trees, and shrubs but water is just as important during the fall as it is in the spring and summer. The roots of these plants are growing and preparing the plant for the flowering season. Make sure you are still providing basic care to your lawn, flowerbeds, and gardens during the fall and winter months. If you need help with your fall and winter tasks, call The Experienced Gardner for your lawn care needs. 

Lay Down Pre-Emergent

Fall and winter is the time of year, in many areas, to lay pre-emergent on the lawn to prevent weeds and problem grasses. This can only be done twice a year in many places so make sure you check with The Experienced Gardener to find out when this should be done in your area.