Winter Lawn And Garden Prep

You have carefully tended your garden all spring and summer, now is the time to clean up for fall.

• Remove some annuals, debris, and leaves, while ensuring that you leave enough material to give beneficial bugs and pollinators areas to hibernate in the winter months to support your garden ecosystem next year.
• Some perennials are best cut back in the fall to avoid disease, especially bee balm, phlox, and hosta. However, many perennials can be left to cut back in the spring, especially those with bountiful seedheads such as coneflowers or rudbeckia, as the birds will enjoy their seeds through winter.
• Cover ponds to protect them from falling leaves.
• Prepare and clean birdhouses and feeders so they can provide a safe and clean environment for animals throughout the winter. Find more about the best winter feeders, food choices, and cleaning tips from Sheridan experts here.
• Bring in seeds and herbs for drying and use for next year.
• Preserve the last of your vegetable and fruit harvest and create a clean space for next years bountiful garden.
• Give your lawn a final shorter cut than usual.
• Dig up summer bulbs and tubers for replanting in the spring. This includes varieties such as Canna, Dahlia, and Gladiolus. Store them in a cool, dry place as heat will lead to early spouting and moisture will lead to rotting. Store bulbs over winter in paper bags, or boxes with holes for circulation. They can be covered with peat moss, vermiculite or saw dust to keep them dry. Air circulation is key to prevent rotting.
• Protect concrete décor pieces such as statues and birdbaths. Speak to a team member at your local Sheridan Nurseries for what is best for your unique pieces.
• Protect and store your outdoor living patio pieces to ensure its longevity by following A Guide to Caring for Your Patio Furniture.

• Get a head start for next spring! Fall is for Planting Trees, Shrubs & Perennials. Warm soil and cool air stimulate root growth that helps establish the plant before the ground freezes. Look at your fully grown garden for any gaps to fill in.
• Plant spring-flowering bulbs.
• Colder months, such as September to November, are ideal times to plant garlic for harvesting in August! Like our blog, 8 Steps to Growing Garlic outlines, garlic is an extremely easy plant to grow and is rewarding to cook with throughout the seasons.
• Consider dividing spring-blooming perennials if you have overgrown areas or an area that is starting to look cramped. Get your expert Sheridan guide on How to Divide Perennials here.
• Be sure to water well right up to the first frost.

• Apply compost in late autumn to allow the soil to soak up the nutrients before the winter freeze. Composted Manure and Sea Compost are great for topdressing.
• Add a couple of inches of compost or manure on top of your garden beds any time before the ground freezes.
• Water remaining trees, shrubs and plants up until the ground freezes.
• Add fertilizer to your lawn to strengthen roots, blades and build up disease resistance.
• Mulch shrubs and bushes.
• Stake trees to avoid heaving from the freezing ground through fall winter and spring.

• Clean all garden tools and do any required maintenance. Don’t put your tools away dirty, which can cause rust or damage.
• Sharpen lawnmower and pruning blades.
• Remove debris from the eavestroughs and gutters. This will prevent a build-up of water during the winter as well as damage to your home.
• Add a gas preservative or empty the gas tank on your lawnmower and gas trimmer.
• Drain and disconnect garden hoses.
• Turn off outdoor water lines to prevent pipes from cracking during the cold winter months.
• Empty clay, ceramic, fibreglass and summer plastic pots. Store them safely inside. If they are left outside through the freeze-thaw cycles, there is a good chance they will crack.

• One of the easiest ways to protect your shrubs and plants from winter is to wrap them. Using screening or burlap, wrap evergreens exposed to harsh winds, salt spray, and heavy snow loads. Your garden centre advisor will be able to provide you with tips on the right coverings for your plants.
• Hill up your roses
• Wrap your fruit trees with a tree guard spiral to protect them from rabbits, mice and squirrels.
• Bring indoors potted plants that are not winter hardy, such as ferns, herbs, cactus, or tropicals.

 

Visit your local Sheridan Nurseries garden center for expert, personalized advice on products best suited for your plants and outdoor living spaces.