Even though the weather has started to cool, experienced growers know that preparation for winter can be quite a busy time in the garden. Winter prepping plants will vary greatly, depending upon the region and what has been planted. Regardless of these facts, preparing plants for winter will be key in sustaining and maintaining healthy plantings each year .
How to Prepare Plants for Winter
Protecting plants in winter will require research. First, understand winter conditions within your garden, as well as the needs of the plants. While those living in mild climates may only need occasional protection from light frosts, gardeners elsewhere may need to implement several techniques to ensure the survival of garden plants through winter.
Protecting plants in winter from light frost is fairly straightforward. With a few simple techniques, plants can survive brief cold snaps.
- Soils should be well watered. Since wet soils are better able to retain heat, adequate moisture will be essential.
- Coverings such as frost blankets, or even old bed sheets, are ideal when used overnight to protect plants from dips in temperature.Always make certain the material does not come into contact with the plant itself, as the weight can cause damage.Once temperatures rise, remove the cover immediately to allow proper light and air circulation to resume.
- Among the most common methods of protecting plants in winter is to bring them indoors. While many tropical plants can be grown in containers as houseplants, others may need more consideration. Preparing plants for winter, in some cases, will require plants to reach dormancy before moving the containers. In these instances, getting plants ready for winter means reduction of watering and fertilization so that the plant’s natural growth cycle may continue uninterrupted.
- In addition to encouraging dormancy in herbaceous plants, cold tender summer bulbs will need to be lifted from the ground and stored for the winter.
- Apprendre à préparer les plantes pour l’hiver qui resteront dans le jardin nécessitera une attention aux besoins du sol. À l’automne, de nombreux producteurs appliquent des couches de paillis épais. Ces couches doivent être constituées de matériaux naturels, comme des feuilles ou de la paille. Lorsque les températures glaciales arrivent enfin, du paillis supplémentaire peut être ajouté autour des plantes. Cette isolation supplémentaire est essentielle pour aider les plantes à survivre aux conditions potentiellement glaciales et aux cycles de gel dans le jardin.