8 Tips for Getting Your Garden Ready for Winter

When I see the leaves falling and the days getting shorter, I know it’s time to get our garden ready for winter. With a few simple steps, I make sure my plants get through the cold just fine and that our garden can bloom in full force again in the spring.

1. Fall Leaves as Mulch

Instead of throwing away all the leaves in my garden, I chop them up a bit finer with the lawn mower and spread them around my plants. The leaves provide good protection against frost and also nourish the soil.

Mulch is a layer of organic or inorganic material that you apply to the soil in your garden, usually around plants. It blocks sunlight, which gives weeds less of a chance to grow. It retains moisture in the soil—ideal during dry periods. Mulch also protects plant roots from frost. Organic mulch (such as leaves or wood chips) decomposes slowly and nourishes the soil.

2. Flower Bulbs Among My Vegetable Plants

In the fall, I plant a few flower bulbs here and there among my vegetable plants. And then, in February or March, something special happens: while my vegetable garden still looks bare and wintry, a tulip or daffodil suddenly pops up among the empty beds. The flower bulbs have already finished blooming by the time the new vegetable plants need space again.

3. A winter sowing schedule

I always make a winter sowing schedule. Some seeds, such as lamb’s lettuce or spinach, I can sow as early as fall for an early harvest in the spring. This helps me stay organized and know exactly what to do and when.

4. Emptying the rain barrel

Before the frost sets in, I cover my rain barrel or let it drain completely. Frozen water expands and can cause the barrel to crack. So I prefer to empty it and lay it on its side—that saves a lot of hassle in the spring.

5. Roof Tiles or a Wood Pile for Biodiversity

A little messy corner in my garden turns out to be worth its weight in gold for biodiversity. I build a pile of branches, leaves, and some rocks or old roof tiles. Hedgehogs and insects find shelter there, and I enjoy the life it attracts.

Biodiversity really just means having many different kinds of plants and animals together. The more variety, the healthier and stronger the ecosystem in my garden.

6. Hanging suet balls

I hang suet balls for the birds. They help me get rid of overwintering insects, and it’s nice to see birds in the garden. Plus, this way I give them some extra food during the cold weather.

I melt unsalted fat (such as coconut oil) and mix it with seeds, oatmeal, nut pieces, and maybe some raisins. I pour the mixture into a cup with a string inside. Once it’s hardened, I take it out and hang it outside.

7. Maintaining Garden Tools

I treat my garden tools with oil before storing them: flaxseed oil for the wooden handles, and some petroleum jelly or motor oil for the metal parts. This prevents rust, and I’m extra happy when spring comes!

8. Faded Flowers

I just leave faded flowers, like coneflowers or thistles, where they are. Why? They’re beautiful in the winter, and birds are drawn to them to eat the seeds. That’s how I give nature a helping hand, even in the cold.

Love, Daphne