Winter Care

- Joel Hawkins

There is little downtime for gardeners in winter, despite it being a slow-growth season. As the temperature drops, take the time to prepare the yard for the onset of more stressful conditions to come. The following tips will help you maintain your garden in winter and give it the best possible start to spring.

REMOVE WEEDS

 Broad-leafed weeds can take control of the weakened state of the lawn in winter. As rainfall increases, weeds will begin to appear across the lawn. It is best to remove the weeds before they mature and set seed. For small areas, hand weeding is an effective way to remove weeds. For larger areas, control the weeds using a herbicide.

REDUCE WATERING

Too much watering in winter results in the clogging of soil, so water for at least half the time you would in summer. Avoid watering plant foliage and water in the morning as this gives both the soil and lawn time to dry before nightfall, reducing the chance of fungal diseases. Don’t stop watering altogether as many soil types can drain away their water reserves in winter and, when the first warm day of spring arrives, the grass struggles to cope with the warmer conditions. Instead, monitor the lawn and plants throughout winter and water accordingly.

REDUCE MOWING