Your cart is currently empty!
Get Event Reminders…
…twice a month by subscribing to our newsletter
Subscribe using the form in the page footer below.
Your cart is currently empty!
…twice a month by subscribing to our newsletter
Subscribe using the form in the page footer below.
Just as I prepare to stay warm this winter, I also need to prepare the garden for the upcoming winter season. As I finish putting the pots away and adding compost and leaves to the beds, I have a chance to check out what kind of plants are left. I cut down the peonies and the phlox because they have mold and mildew. If I cut them down and remove the leaves, there are fewer chances of more mildew next year.
Greetings fellow gardeners,
It is coming down to the wire. There are so many things to get done and the weather continues to cool. I need to keep stacking the wood or too-many cats will be very upset that the woodstove is not working. Just as I prepare to stay warm this winter, I also need to prepare the garden for the upcoming winter season.Â
This summer I played host to a project by a PhD student who was studying bees. She installed special boxes to encourage bees to nest. She came by last week to take the nesting boxes back to the lab where the leaf-cutter bees, who set up shop will be well-observed until spring. I learned a lot by participating in this experiment; bees love my messy garden. I have a lot of weeds and wildflowers that the bees enjoyed.
I have continued to empty my pots, picking the last of the lettuce and removing droopy annuals. My pots are stored in a little shed. I try to clean them up with a mild dish detergent and water.
I have been dumping the soil from the pots into the compost or leaving it in the perennial garden. The nutrients have been depleted but I can add compost and leaves, and they will break down over the winter. I like to add compost to my vegetable and perennial gardens in the fall and sometimes I add manure as well; it all breaks down. As I have a maple tree, the maple tree leaves are added first before compost and manure. Maple leaves break down quickly. I never use the fruit tree leaves as they are often carriers of fungus or disease, and they take longer to break down.
As I finish putting the pots away and adding compost and leaves to the beds, I have a chance to check out what kind of plants are left. I cut down the peonies and the phlox because they have mold and mildew. If I cut them down and remove the leaves, there are fewer chances of more mildew next year. I make sure that the roses in and around my perennial beds are wrapped up in bird-netting to catch and collect the snow. The January freeze-thaw is what will kill my roses and tender perennials, but the snow will protect them. Remember that if you use salt on pathways the salt will leach into the soil and hurt your plants. Try to find a less toxic choice.
I leave perennials like sedum and asters because they have lots of seeds and provide shelter for birds and over-wintering insects. The other benefit of leaving your perennials is that they will hold snow on your garden and add protection.
So, the winter preparations are done. All of the pots are emptied, the compost and leaves have been added to the beds, the roses are wrapped in netting and most of the wood is stacked. Enjoy your week. Judith.
Contact Judith through her Website https://www.lapisdragonarts.com/. Find more weekly Veggie Bites experiences on the Veggie Bites page.
Logging in to comment gives you more features, but it is not required.
If have a dog, you understand the need to have a dog friendly garden. You don’t want your gorgeous plants destroyed. We give you 10 ideas.
I have compiled a list of the 7 best kitchen herbs for cooking, so you don’t have to depend on your local grocery store anymore!
I brought a four-cup measuring cup with me and filled it with rose petals. My first batch of rose petal jelly is ready to eat.
A gardening business is one of the most fruitful endeavours and is guaranteed to reap good profits however there are a few limiting factors.
Explore agricultural exhibits, livestock shows, crafts, entertainment, local cuisine, and more at a country fair. Experience community spirit and tradition!
When transplanting, the shock might make the plants become weak and wither. With the use of Epsom salt, the shock is minimized considerably.
Plant Stiff Goldenrod for a vibrant fall display in prairie gardens, cottage gardens and pollinator gardens. This multi-functional flowering plant is easy to grow and its leaves in fall change to lovely colors of red. Learn more about this impressive species.
Progressively acclimate your indoor plants to the outdoors before transplanting to prevent sunscald, dehydration, wind damage, and more.
Lucky Bamboo make a great addition to any household. This lucky bamboo guide shows how care can be a simple undertaking.
Explore the trend of mixing ornamental and vegetable plants for striking combinations in your garden.
Baptisia australis is beautiful and a sure bet to be introduced into your garden. It looks nice even after it’s done blooming.
GardeningCalendar.ca gets some funding from advertisers. If you click on links and advertisements at no cost to you, the site may receive a small commission that helps fund its operation.
© 2024 J&S Calendars Ltd.