Front Yard Landscaping Ideas

Basic Gardening – Winterizing

Preparing your garden for winter will minimize cold damage and ensure much healthier plants in the spring. The following guidelines will help you in preparing your landscape for the cold winter months.

Tropical potted plants need to be brought indoors before the first frost. Place them near a window with strong sunlight - preferably on the south side of your home. Hardier potted plants need some winter protection, especially in colder climates. It is a good idea to place them in a protected area like a garage and bring them out into shaded areas on warm days. Another alternative is to place the plants on the south side of your home against a wall. For best results mulch heavily around the containers. The sunlight will last longer on this side of your home, heating the wall which will radiate heat out through the night. It will also give the plants protection from northerly winds.

After the first frost when your perennials are starting to turn brown and die back, it is the best time for mulching. You will want to cover the perennials with a 2"-4" layer of mulch, straw or evergreen boughs. This will help protect the plant through their winter dormancy. In very cold climates you can mulch up to a 6" layer of protection. When spring arrives be sure to remove mulch and clip off the dead foliage. New growth should start appearing shortly as the ground continues to warm.

Some plants, like roses, need to be protected in the colder climates. A heavy mulching is called for, and if in doubt, mulch!

If you live in area that receives less than 1-inch on rain per week, your trees and shrubs will need to be watered throughout the winter. For individuals who live in areas where the ground actually freezes you will want to do one good deep watering before the ground freezes. This should provide enough moisture for the deep roots below the frozen soil. Apply a good 2"-4" layer of mulch on top of your landscape fabric around your trees and shrubs. This will help hold in the soils warmth and moisture throughout the winter. In very cold climates you can mulch up to 6" layer of protection and even higher around the trunks of trees and shrubs. It is a good idea to use landscape fabrics in the flower beds in your landscape. Landscape fabrics are designed to help prevent weeds from growing and hold moisture in the soil.

By following these few simple guidelines, you can help your plants, trees, and shrubs survive the harsh winter conditions.

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