Seasonal Gardening - Working in the Winter Garden
Some folks are lucky enough to live where you can garden outside year round. For most of us, winter gardening consists of houseplants, seed starting and planning next year's garden.
Overwintering Geraniums
It’s easy to over winter geraniums, either as plants or dormant. Zonal geraniums are only hardy to USDA Zone 8. Gardeners in other areas basically have 4 choices of how to store their geraniums for winter: let them die off as annuals, bring them indoors as houseplants, take cuttings and make more plants or store the geraniums dormant until next spring.
It’s easy to over winter geraniums, either as plants or dormant. Zonal geraniums are only hardy to USDA Zone 8. Gardeners in other areas basically have 4 choices of how to store their geraniums for winter: let them die off as annuals, bring them indoors as houseplants, take cuttings and make more plants or store the geraniums dormant until next spring.
Winter Mulching in Cold Climate Gardens
In areas that experience freezing temperatures, winter mulching of the garden differs from mulching during the growing season. We mulch our gardens in the spring to suppress weeds, retain moisture and feed and warm the soil. While we may spread a layer of soil conditioning compost or manure in the fall, the primary reason for winter mulching is to protect our plants from the harsh conditions of winter freezes, thaws and winds. There are several ways to do this.
In areas that experience freezing temperatures, winter mulching of the garden differs from mulching during the growing season. We mulch our gardens in the spring to suppress weeds, retain moisture and feed and warm the soil. While we may spread a layer of soil conditioning compost or manure in the fall, the primary reason for winter mulching is to protect our plants from the harsh conditions of winter freezes, thaws and winds. There are several ways to do this.
Attract Birds in the Winter
Essentials to increase the number and variety of birds that visit your garden during winter.
Essentials to increase the number and variety of birds that visit your garden during winter.
Dreaming Up Next Year's Garden
Spend some time looking at your garden site during the off season, when you can really view it objectively.
Spend some time looking at your garden site during the off season, when you can really view it objectively.
December: Regional Gardening To Do List
In the warmer zones, December is the start of pleasant weather and a chance to enjoy planting cool season vegetables and flowers that don’t tolerate your summers. Northern gardeners should use this period without leaves to scout for egg masses and other signs of trouble on trees and shrubs. Here are some more regional gardening tips for the beginning of winter.
In the warmer zones, December is the start of pleasant weather and a chance to enjoy planting cool season vegetables and flowers that don’t tolerate your summers. Northern gardeners should use this period without leaves to scout for egg masses and other signs of trouble on trees and shrubs. Here are some more regional gardening tips for the beginning of winter.
January: Regional Gardening To Do List
January in the garden often means gardening vicariously through garden catalogs. For many gardeners, the only winter garden chore is dormant pruning. Whether you're staying warm indoors and dreaming about gardening or you're outside getting things in order, here are a few more regional gardening tips to help you get through winter.
January in the garden often means gardening vicariously through garden catalogs. For many gardeners, the only winter garden chore is dormant pruning. Whether you're staying warm indoors and dreaming about gardening or you're outside getting things in order, here are a few more regional gardening tips to help you get through winter.
February: Regional Gardening To Do List
February may well be the toughest gardening month. Gardeners in warm climates don't know what kind of weather to expect from day to day or from day to night. Gardeners in cold climates just want to see the sun again. February in the garden is for planning and pruning and for seeing the first signs that spring is around the corner. Here are some regional tips for gardening in February.
February may well be the toughest gardening month. Gardeners in warm climates don't know what kind of weather to expect from day to day or from day to night. Gardeners in cold climates just want to see the sun again. February in the garden is for planning and pruning and for seeing the first signs that spring is around the corner. Here are some regional tips for gardening in February.
Bring Outdoor Accessories Inside this Winter for Year Round Enjoyment
Cold weather used to mean moving all your delicate flower pots and garden ornaments into the garage for safe keeping. Why just store your garden accessories and have them take up space when you could put them to good use indoors. Here are some creative ideas for using garden items indoors during the winter.
Cold weather used to mean moving all your delicate flower pots and garden ornaments into the garage for safe keeping. Why just store your garden accessories and have them take up space when you could put them to good use indoors. Here are some creative ideas for using garden items indoors during the winter.