Leaving the summer season behind is always challenging. It’s vibrant colours and blooms are always welcoming and as it departs, we all hope that it will return soon and last for a longer time. Gardens are full of life and many take pride in showing off the latest trend hoping to make a statement encouraging others to follow. It is a season that brings much laughter, trips and family barbecues. Occasionally the topic is about the garden especially if the edibles that being eating is generated from there. It puts a smile on everyone face and the food seems to always taste better than the store-bought ones.
Then as the evenings begin to become darker and there is less sunlight to wake up to in the mornings, there is an awareness that the season is changing. The weather gets cooler, and the trees begin to change colours. Autumn comes with shrubs and trees exhibiting hues of red, brown, orange and gold which seem to be quite dazzling. It is surely an amazing sight to see and it’s a season that makes the scenery quite picturesque. The memory of what this holds remains in our minds. Then eventually the leaves begin to fall, and the season ends and transitions into winter.
Everything is covered with white snow, and it seem unbelievable that once the area was filled with greenery and splashing colours of reds, yellow and more. It is that time when we all need to face the fact that nothing stays the same and that includes the seasons for those who live in cold countries. I am never prepared for the cold no matter how many times it comes my way and eventually it a matter of adjusting to what must take place. Let your focus be on how to accommodate the cold, what needs to be done to make sure the garden will continue to yield its produce for the next season.
Tools and Supplies Needed
- Make a list of supplies needed to complete the task.
- Gloves are essential and it is best to choose the insulated and waterproof type. It is important to keep your hands protect from any bacteria which can be prevalent in the soil or any debris which can cause injury.
- Rake is a quick way to gather leaves and makes the job much quicker.
- Wheelbarrow makes the transportation of materials to the garden easier.
- Hand Pruners are a quick way to dispose of plants or small branches that have died or have been overcome with a disease.
- Blanket or Burlap they are great to keep delicate plants with sufficient warmth alive from the harsh winter. Some plants are able to survive well while other needs a little help.
- Shovel will be needed to spread the mulch.
- Forks can be used if you have added compost material to the ground, this will help to aerate the soil and prepare it for the next season. Although some caution should be adhered as this can destroy the earthworms and cause instability of the soil structure causing drainage issues. Especially if you don’t want to have a pond settling.
- Garden hose to give the soil a bit of moisture and remember to drain the hose after the job is completed.
- Fertilizer will be needed in preparation of the cold months ahead. Making your own from the juice of the compost produces a rich organic fertilizer.
- Consider a layout for planting bulbs like Tulps which are best in the ground before the frost begins.
- Finally, after your preparation is complete clean your equipment and store them away in a safe place for the next season.
Garden Gloves
It may seem a common practice to use your bare hands when planting or even removing debris in the garden. Not much thought goes into the dangers of bacteria that can be transferred through the skin and causing many health-related issues. Debris from metal and other contaminants should be considered. It is always recommended to use a garden glove as a preventative method to avoid any health-related problems that may occur in the future. In this way using an insulated and waterproof glove is best. I wrote an article on this subject if you would like more information. I have attached the link below.
https://plantsfordecor.com/blogs/articles/why-use-a-garden-glove
Rake
I can’t imagine how long it would take to clear all those leaves and debris from the garden without a rake. Everything would most likely be done by hand which would be time consuming and a back breaking exercise which no one would enjoy for a long period of time especially if you have a large property. The rake is able to gather leaves and debris which makes the job quicker and saves you much needed time.
Wheelbarrow
It is a hand pushed cart using one wheel which can be operated by one person to fill a container with materials to be transported from one place to the next. This can be used to help with clearing debris away from the site, bringing material to the garden, assisting with moving dead branches away, helping to transport mulch or compost materials. A very handy tool for any gardener especially while working in the garden alone.
Hand Pruners
A safe method of clearing dead or diseased branches. The pruners are sharp and prevents you from any accidental injury or breaking the branches in the wrong places. I recommend pruning only the ones that are dead or diseased and leave the others for the spring. Unless it’s completely overgrown and totally out of control. Then some pruning can be done. Spring is always a better time for the plants to begin to shoot back quicker than in winter where the growth season is always slow or dormant.
Blanket or Burlap
The winter weather is unable to be totally predicted. It could be a mild one or be very cold. It is best to prepare for the worst to avoid any loss. One way is to wrap trees or shrubs or any plant that you consider to be at risk with a warm covering. Burlap is recommended which will aid with some warmth especially for trees that have not been through the first winter. It protects them and secures that they will last throughout the cold season. Others prefer to use an old blanket which works similar providing some shelter from the cold. Plastic can also be used to cover your outdoor garden this will prevent birds from depositing seeds that will generate weeds for the garden.
Shovel
Use your shovel to help spread the compost and your mulch around the garden. This tool can be found in many sizes and different types. Ranging from a square to pointed. Usually, the pointed ones are used for digging. The small ones are for the mini jobs in the garden. The large ones are suitable for more difficult tasks.
Forks
The fork plays an important role in aerating the soil. When compost material is added to the soil it is a good way to rotate the pile to make sure it functions and breaks down into the soil required for gardening. Taking care to turn the soil gently is best to avoid any disruption of the natural formation of the ground.
Garden Hose
No gardener can be without this tool which aids in the transportation of water from one area to the next. The soil will need to be hydrated with the last sprinkle of water before the frost sets it and allowed to drain. Once this is completed it time to make sure all the water collected in the hose is removed.
Fertilizer
Adding fertilizers is a good way to make sure the plants have all the nutrition they need to survive in the winter. The compost juice makes a very rich natural fertilizer and would be one of the best things you can use to boost your plants.
Planting Bulbs
Plan your garden for the next season by deciding which bulbs would be best to plant in this cool season. Tulips are great to put in the ground now before the frost begins this will allow for a spring of vibrant colours before the summer. Daffodils are also a good choice. Then your garden will be in full blooms with a variety of plants from spring to summer. They can also last into the fall season if you continue to add plants that bloom in different seasons. This brings a continuous supply of flowers throughout these periods.
Cleaning your Equipment
It is a practical step to take to make sure your tools will last for a long time. If you have used a tool like a pruning sheer to remove an infected plant, it is best to remove any form of fungus to avoid recontamination. Some tools may require oil to prevent rust from forming. I am encouraging you not to wait for spring where this chore will be forgotten and risk the chance of continuing any contamination.
Winter and its Challenges
Winter weather is one of the most challenging of all the seasons to live in. For some it’s an enjoyable season. The landscape is transformed into white, and everything looks completely different. Those who engage into winter activities enjoy it for ice skating, kids enjoy tobogganing and others for skiing. It is a beautiful sight to see the snow on the trees and it makes the area looking more like a wonderland from a story book.
We never know what to expect a mild winter or a cold and brutal season. We can experience a snowstorm bringing snow falls of more than two feet to freezing rain causing all kinds of havoc to power lines, roads and trees. During this season we expect that even the sturdiest trees can be ruined. In other cases where the weather is mild then it produces a lot of water and some flooding creating uneven surfaces and erosion of the soil. This weather can become expensive especially when trees are down, and you have to call a professional to remove it at a cost to you. Knowing these possibilities, it is always best to prepare for the unexpected.
Pests
The cold weather tends to attract pest like spiders looking for food from the leaves of your indoor plant which is easily available to them. Inspection is recommended to keep them away from having a feast on your plants. I recently found myself in this situation and was able to make a solution of clove water which worked for me. A quick response to any situation is best to avoid a whole infestation of the other plants. Remember to isolate any plant that has any contamination.
The outdoor garden space is a place frequented by racoons, squirrels and rabbits looking for some source of food. Securing the area with barriers and a plastic covering that covers the space will help to keep them away. If you have compost bins it is best to make sure they are secure and inaccessible to any of these animals.
Sunlight
You may discover that during the winter month it is a slow growth period for plants and the reason is there is less sunlight as the days are shorter due to the positioning of the sun during these months. As plants are dependent on the process of photosynthesis it is a period of slowing down for them. An easy solution to this problem is to purchase a grow light which can be bought from any online store.
In my case I decided to move my plants to the window ledge and harness the sunlight that was coming through. What happened was the window acted as a magnifying glass and burnt the leaves. If you have any plans of making the same mistake I made, I would suggest that you use filtered light like a curtain or blinds to help control the amount of light that is being given to the plant. Be encouraged that these measures are only temporary until the season changes to a warmer climate.
Plan Ahead for the New Season
While the snow is on the ground prohibiting anything for new growth it is a good time to reflect, make adjustment and start thinking about your next crop to grow and how to get your starter seeds growing. You may already have selected your favourite garden centre or places where these can be bought. Or you can wait until it begins to warm up and then go and purchase them. If you like to get ahead of the crowd, then start planting them indoors.
There are more growing options for those gardeners who are more adventurous. A seed starter kit allows for the seeds to be planted indoors and will encourage you to experiment with different types of seeds to see which ones grow at a faster rate. In this way it becomes easier to make the right selections for the next planting period.
Investing in an indoor green house is also another method of keeping your garden producing especially herb like basil for that special sauce and brew some peppermint tea which will grow very easily. This tea will produce a quick harvest while waiting for the ground to thaw. You can also make your own mini greenhouse which I have done by using a plastic ice cube tray just add the soil, water and the seeds then cover with plastic and allow it to germinate. Many of these starter kits I have found in a Dollar store and the cost to you is minimal. If you feel the need to become more sophisticated a hydroponics growing system is another option. The kits usually come with everything needed to create the best growing experience with timers, aeration for the oxygen, grow lights and the solution for a speedy growth. These can be found in garden centres or online at stores like Amazon.
Review of your History
Reviewing your history allows you to correct the mistakes you made in the past so it will not be repeated. Document in your diary or note pad what worked for you in the past. It could be that you have discovered a fertilizer that made your vegetables grow bigger than the previous years. Or the layout of the garden was ineffective for growth because of the location of the sunlight.
Neighbours generally share what works for them in the garden. This is a good way to make notes and experiment to prove that their method works. I had neighbours that was able to produce massive tomatoes compared with mine. I needed to find out what was it that made his garden so robust and was yielding more that mine. His secret was to use cow manure. That gave him a boost to is produce.
As we continue to explore the planting techniques, new methods are constantly being discovered. In the past leftover food was often discarded without recognizing its potential as a valuable source of nutrients for our soil. While winter presents its own challenges, preparation ahead of the season is key, By planning and adapting we can overcome difficulties and thrive despite the changing climates.