We finally had a killing frost last night. We’ve been squeaking out a few tomatoes, peppers and raspberries most days, but after last night we are officially done. Once you have a very cold night, it’s difficult to salvage your plants. Even if you cover and try to protect them. So now it’s time to wrap up the garden for the season.
There are certain chores that need to be done at the end of the garden season. This helps to set the stage for next year’s garden. Although it’s easy to just let things go after the plants die, your garden will be better off if you take care of a few tasks.
So here are some of the chores that should be done at the end of a productive garden year.
Related: Preparing Your Yard and Garden for Winter
What to do to wrap up the garden for the season…
Remove dead plant materials that pose a risk
In the garden you will want to clean out your beds of materials that pose a risk of spreading disease. Complete a partial cleanup as the garden season ends. Get rid of plant matter that could spread diseases such as powdery mildew. So the dead peony branches and zucchini plants must go. You do not want to compost these plants. Other plants such as the green bean vines can be composted. However, you don’t need to completely remove all of the dead plant material.
What plants to leave in the garden
It’s good to leave some plants in your garden as it winters over. Here are 3 types of plants to let stick around until the spring.
- Plants with seed heads and berries…Consider leaving seed heads and berries to attract the birds. Sunflower seed heads, coneflowers, black-eyed susans and virginia creeper can provide food for birds that will not go south for the winter.
- Plants that provide habitat…Certain plants offer a winter retreat to beneficial bugs such as ladybugs, native bees, butterfly chrysalises and praying mantis pods. All of these can either be attached to the plant material or protected from the winter cold by the plant. Hydrangea stems, berry brambles and herb beds can provide a winter layover for many beneficial bugs.
- Plants that offer winter protection…Some plants will add a layer of protection that helps the plant to survive the colder temperatures. As leaf matter drops it can form a protective layer that will cover the roots. Leave this natural mulch to help insulate the plants.
Clear your garden beds of unsightly materials
Clean up your garden areas of temporary fencing, broken stakes, poles, twine and ties. However, you do not need to remove everything. An attractive trellis, arbor, tuteurs or other garden material can provide winter interest in your garden. Even though we don’t spend as much time in the garden during the winter months, it’s nice to look out your windows and see a birdbath covered with snow or an old chair dusted with frost. So keep some hardscaping materials to add beauty to your garden.
Rake the leaves off your lawn
Although leaf matter can provide plant protection and a home for beneficial bugs, it’s not good to leave it on your grass. So this is one chore that you definitely need to do. If you leave a layer of leaves on your lawn it can mat the grass down and weaken it. So rake up the leaves and include some in your compost pile. You can also use your lawn mower to chop the leaves up and use as a mulch to protect plant roots.
Plant Spring Blooming Bulbs
There’s still time to get your crocus, daffodils and tulip bulbs in the ground. Until the soil totally freezes you can plant these bulbs. The sooner you get them planted the better however.
Related: Now is the Time to Plant Spring Blooming Bulbs
Repair and store your tools
We want our rakes, shovels, clippers and other tools to last many years not just one season. To prolong their lifespan, it’s a good idea to store them for the winter. First however, clean them up and repair any damage done during the growing season. You will also want to drain your hoses and store them in a protected area as well.
Clean and rehang bird feeders
If you like to feed the birds then now is the time to get them hung up. If you haven’t cleaned them in awhile use a heavy duty brush to remove any embedded debris and then wipe them down. Rehang them and start filling them for the season. However, if you decide to feed the birds this winter, make sure that you’re committed to regular fill ups. The birds become accustomed to your feeder and so you want to make sure that there’s always seeds available.
As we wrap the garden up for the season we’re setting the stage for a beautiful garden next year. We have removed materials that can harbor disease while we have kept some plants that will feed the birds and protect beneficial bugs. We’ve also cleaned things up to make the winter view more enjoyable for us. The grass will be better able to survive the winter cold and our garden tools are well maintained.
Now it’s time for us to move indoors for the season and enjoy a time of rest. Just like the garden needs a time to rest and get rejuvenated we also can benefit from this time of relaxation. Of course, as a gardener we can’t just forget about our lovely gardens. If you are like me, you’re already dreaming of the new garden to come. And what a lovely and productive garden we’re going to have…next year!