The Ultimate Putting Your Albuquerque Garden to Bed Before Winter Game Plan

Several things need to be done to make your garden ready for the winter:

• Trimming back some plants.
• Clearing away the garbage.
• Planting species that need to be in the ground in the autumn.
• Shielding plants from the winter cold.
• Getting ready for the spring.

Your workload in the spring, when you have other duties to complete when your garden awakens, will be reduced if you perform an essential cleansing of the park in the autumn. In addition, clearing away any plants or debris that may be infected with a disease or harboring pests is an excellent way to ensure that your garden will maintain its robust state over the winter and into the next growing season.

Here are some things to remember as you prepare your garden for the colder months ahead.

 Reducing Expenditures

Most perennials can have their stems trimmed back in the fall, but a few species prefer to have their limbs left intact. This helps to insulate the roots from the cold winter. Conduct some study to determine which of your species should have their pruning done in the fall and which should have their pruning done in the spring.

For instance, irises, begonias, clematis, and daylilies are all examples of perennials that should be pruned in the fall. In addition, asters, lavender, lamb’s ear, and hostas are perennials that require spring pruning. One of the advantages of postponing the pruning of some plants until the spring is that over the winter, they can offer food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects, in addition to adding aesthetic appeal to the surrounding environment.

It would help if you held off on pruning until after the plants have been killed by frost. You should avoid encouraging weak new growth and be susceptible to dying off fast in cold conditions since doing so might weaken the entire plant. Also, wait until woody plants, trees, and shrubs are dormant before you trim them. Start with plants that are ill or have a problem with pests, and instead of composting the trash from such plants, throw it away.

Cleaning

When autumn arrives, it is time to remove any annual plants that have died or are in decline. They could still have a good appearance, but because they are annuals, there is no chance they will live through the winter and return in the spring. Additionally, gather all the produce growing above ground in the fruit trees, shrubs, and vegetable garden. Otherwise, if fruits and vegetables are left out during the winter, they have the potential to deteriorate, attract animals that are not intended, and establish seed in areas where it is not desired.

In the fall, you should also clean up any areas that have been overgrown, pull out any weeds or other plants that aren’t desirable, and get rid of any heaps of brush or other yard garbage that may still be there. Anything not moved or cleaned up before winter can become a breeding ground for undesirable bugs or diseases.

In addition to that, make sure that you clean your garden equipment as well as any other goods that are kept outside. It’s tempting to clean and maintain your outdoor gear until the spring, but it’s far wiser to put everything away while it’s still clean and in working order. Therefore, move anything that does not need to be exposed to the weather into a clean and dry place, such as a shed or a garage, so that it can be kept clean and will have a longer lifespan. Clean everything with a garden hose, including tools, empty pots, garden stakes, and everything else you could use in the garden. Additionally, before putting tools away, sharpen them and give them a protective finish by spraying them with a little layer of lubricating oil.

Planting

Even in the fall, some crops need to be planted. Before the ground becomes too frozen to work, grow blooming bulbs, garlic, and rhubarb. Additionally, make the most of the chilly weather by planting seeds of mache and spinach (corn salad). The beginning of spring will mark the beginning of their growth for you.

Up to the point where the soil freezes, you can also plant bushes and trees. The fall season is an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs because, at this time of year, the plants can focus all their efforts on developing strong roots. If, on the other hand, the ground never freezes, you will need to continue to water a new tree or shrub throughout the whole winter. In a similar vein, perennial plants are going to require water right up until the ground freezes. They may be in a state of dormancy, but they have not passed away.

If your plants are still in good shape, repot some of them so you can bring them indoors. For instance, several herbs grow as houseplants and may be moved outside once the danger of frost has passed. These herbs can then be transplanted in the garden. 

Protecting

Winter protection is beneficial for a wide variety of plants. For instance, shield plants are plants that animals may consume, which is especially important during the winter when there is less food available. Deer, rabbits, and voles can cause damage to trees, so you should install tree guards and fences around any plants in the area.

In addition, before the first frost of the season, ensure that all the sensitive bulbs have been dug up and put away for the winter. In addition, spread a layer of mulch over the top of garden beds that contain plants that might benefit from the additional insulation.

In addition, make sure you are prepared for unexpected drops in temperature during the fall. Protect plants susceptible to damage from harsh winds by covering them or relocating them to a location protected from the wind. You should also reduce the amount of fertilizer you use in the fall so as not to stimulate weak new growth that falling temperatures might harm.

Prepping for Spring

You may get a head start on spring gardening by doing a few activities and cleaning up your garden as part of this process. For instance, mark any new additions to your garden to remember what you have when spring comes around. In addition, label any plants you intend to split up in the spring.

In addition, preparations need to be made for your soil before the last frost of the season, so it is ready to be used. To get your planting beds ready for spring, apply compost near the end of autumn. The cycle of freezing and thawing temperatures during the winter will help incorporate the compost into the soil. Plus, till your soil. When you move the dirt around, you expose insects trying to burrow in for the winter. You will wake them up from their winter hibernation and place them in plain sight of birds who are hungry for them.

It is also an excellent opportunity to conduct a pH test on your soil in the fall. Adding any essential amendments, which may take some time to take effect, to the ground in the fall will prepare it for the spring planting season.