Don't think just because the weather is not favorable for planting that there are not things you can do in the garden! And you thought you had the winter off.
First if you have had an area of weeds you just can't seem to control now is the time to cultivate the soil and bring all the seeds up for a good frosting! No... not the kind on cake, the winter kind. You will be surprised how it will effect the spring weeds. Think about this, your last seeds have fallen from the weeds, maybe even gotten a cozy home in your bedding. Exposing them to cold temp will kill many of them. If you don't re-bed your plants , then about once a week just gently rake up new soil to be exposed.The more you expose the more you can kill. Also all those dead weeds hanging around... now is the time to pull them so the seeds are gone come spring.TAKE EXTRA care not to expose roots and crowns to the cold weather.
Second I like to bed everything down with a thick layer of ORGANIC material. Especially beds that will not have anything with active plants. This has a double positive on it keeps roots of dormant plants covered and warm, 2 it adds organic materail to your bed so it can compost down to be worked in for spring. It also helps prevent weed sprouting and reduces weed pulling. This process can in some zones go on all winter long.
Beds that have active winter plants get a good cultivating and then if appropriate , feeding and then covering.
Anybody else have good winter tips or chore you like to take care of in the garden.
First if you have had an area of weeds you just can't seem to control now is the time to cultivate the soil and bring all the seeds up for a good frosting! No... not the kind on cake, the winter kind. You will be surprised how it will effect the spring weeds. Think about this, your last seeds have fallen from the weeds, maybe even gotten a cozy home in your bedding. Exposing them to cold temp will kill many of them. If you don't re-bed your plants , then about once a week just gently rake up new soil to be exposed.The more you expose the more you can kill. Also all those dead weeds hanging around... now is the time to pull them so the seeds are gone come spring.TAKE EXTRA care not to expose roots and crowns to the cold weather.
Second I like to bed everything down with a thick layer of ORGANIC material. Especially beds that will not have anything with active plants. This has a double positive on it keeps roots of dormant plants covered and warm, 2 it adds organic materail to your bed so it can compost down to be worked in for spring. It also helps prevent weed sprouting and reduces weed pulling. This process can in some zones go on all winter long.
Beds that have active winter plants get a good cultivating and then if appropriate , feeding and then covering.
Anybody else have good winter tips or chore you like to take care of in the garden.
