Time to start preparing your gardens for Winter

Set the stage for a successful growing season next Spring

Despite the warm weather, it is time to start preparing our gardens for Winter so that they'll be protected and be healthy, come Spring.

Start by strolling around your gardens and take notes on how plants performed, which need to be divided or moved to a better spot, and which poor performers should be replaced altogether.

1. Clean Up Garden Beds: Remove spent plants, weeds, and debris from your garden. This reduces the risk of pests and diseases overwintering in the soil. Compost healthy plant material, but discard any plants that suffered from diseases or insect-infestations (and also anything with powdery mildew).
   
   
2. Deadhead all faded blooms, remove spent annuals, amend soil (this can also be done in Spring), and add mulch.
   
   
3. Mulch: Add a layer of organic mulch (like straw, leaves, or a ring of compost) to protect the soil and plant roots from temperature fluctuations. Mulch helps retain moisture, prevents soil erosion, and suppresses winter weeds.
   
   
4. Divide and Transplant Perennials: Early fall is a great time to divide perennials like daylilies, hostas, irises and any perennials that are more than a few years old. Transplanting in cooler weather reduces stress on the plants and gives them time to establish before winter.
   
   
5. Prepare Soil: After removing summer plants, add compost or organic matter to your garden beds to enrich the soil. This prepares the soil for spring planting and improves its structure over the winter.
   
   
6. Watering and Winter Protection: Water your garden thoroughly before  first freeze, especially if it's been dry. For more delicate plants or perennials, consider using frost blankets or protective covers to insulate them during the coldest nights.
   
   
7. Wrap your young trees. Wrapping a tree in the fall is a useful technique to protect young or thin-barked trees from damage caused by deer and rabbits as well as harsh winter conditions. Tree wraps help prevent sunscald (the sun warms the tree bark during the day and then rapidly cools at night, causing the bark to crack or peel). Wrapping also protects trees from frost cracks and animal damage, as critters like deer and rabbits may gnaw on exposed bark during the winter months.
   
   Here's a video from CSU Extension on how to wrap a tree. Tree wraps should be applied in late fall and removed in early spring to prevent moisture buildup, which could lead to rot or mold. Regularly checking the wrap ensures the tree remains protected throughout the winter season. Purchase here (50ft.) or here (131ft.)
   
   
8. Tool Maintenance: Clean and store gardening tools, containers, and equipment for the winter. Sharpen pruners and spades and disinfect them, and make any repairs to garden structures or tools before storing them away. To disinfect pruners and prevent the spread of plant diseases, start by cleaning them thoroughly to remove any dirt, sap, or plant residue using soapy water or a brush. Once clean, dip the blades in a disinfecting solution such as rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl), or make a bleach solution using one part bleach to nine parts water. Allow the pruners to soak for a few minutes, then wipe them dry with a clean cloth to prevent rusting. Alternatively, you can spray the disinfectant onto the blades and let them air dry. It's important to disinfect pruners between trimming of plants, especially when working with diseased plants, to avoid cross-contamination.

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