The long winter nap maybe applicable to some animals, but plants are living beings that never take rest. Even during winter there is a lot that can be done. For gardeners, it is the perfect time to take advantage of the plant sales and get a few selected plants at a cheap rate and add them to the garden. Winters are special periods, not only for those who conduct their planting in temperate climates, but also for those who dwell in the regions where it snows. There are in fact a lot of ways to take advantage of the ground and the plants in snowy areas, unless it is completely frozen.
You can make good use of the following smart tips and enjoy gardening during the winter season:
Cleaning Up The Garden Beds
The initial step before winter hits the garden is to clean up the garden and the garden beds thoroughly.
Why it is important? Most plants that are not suited to withstand cold, usually wither off by fall. This leaves the garden to face its first day of winter as an unnecessarily overgrown area covered with dead and decayed plants with no use.
Even though some plants have the capacity of naturally devolving into compost, it is advisable to set apart a particular area for composting. Not every plant waste will be appropriate for composting. Some dead plants may carry pests or diseases. Late Blight is such a plant. It survives through winter only to cause other plants of the garden several problems in the summer. For clean up procedures you can visit websites such as Mygardeningnetwork.Com. You can get good amount of information on how to maintain a clean garden.
Adding A Layer Of Compost
Compost is easily purchasable. It can also be created by the gardener. It is a year-long process, which requires the gardener to break down waste in compost pits.
Why it is important? Adding a layer of compost to the garden beds allows the gardener to naturally re-establish the percentage of nutrients in the dirt and soil.
Going For Vegetable Plantation For Next Year’s Harvest
Winter is ideally suited for planting several plants such as garlic, shallots, rhubarb and spinach, to name a few. These plants will be ready by early spring.
Why it is important? Why waste over a month not gardening and leaving the garden activity-less? The challenge in the summer increases when the garden is not looked after in the winters.
Taking A Break
In case the gardeners want to take a break from planting vegetables, it is important that they plant a cover crop. Cover crops are the plants that break down rapidly on their own. For instance:
- Annual Rye Grass
- Hairy Vetch
- Buckwheat
- Red Clover
- Winter Rye
Why it is important? Planting these types of plants enables the top-soil to recollect its nutritional content. It enriches the soil by making it hospitable for spring farming.
The winter period is crucial to secure a year long record of good gardening returns. It can be achieved through simple, yet smart ways.