Last Updated on October 8, 2024
How To Prepare Your Garden for Winter in 11 Easy Steps
Let’s review 11 easy steps to prepare a garden for winter and how to winterize your raised garden bed or inground garden. The article covers topics such as weeding, planting garlic, cover crops, adding compost, and mulching. Stick around to the end I share some helpful last steps to prepare your garden for winter that you might have not thought about that will ensure you have a successful spring garden.
1. Weeding is Essential To Prepare Your Garden for Winter
Weeding is essential into the fall, as untended autumn weeds can harbor disease and lay the roots for future weed problems. Furthermore, after the first frost, spent and rotting plant material should be removed and can be added to your compost pile. This is the first step to Prepare Your Garden for Winter to ensure a beautiful and healthy garden come spring.
2. Remove And Winterize Irrigation Components
Remove any irrigation components – If you have an irrigation system, you’ll want to remove any components that you won’t need to leave out in the winter. This will help to prevent any damage that might occur if they’re left out in the elements. You’ll also want to winterize the system by blowing any water out of the drip lines to prevent them from freezing and bursting. See my video in the description below for a quick and easy walkthrough.
3. Plant Garlic
Plant Garlic – Fall is the best time to plant garlic if you want to harvest it the following summer. By planting garlic in the fall, the roots have time to become established before the coldest weather sets in. Adding mulch around the garlic plants will act as insulation against the cold and help to prevent erosion. Heavy rains can wash away the top layer of soil. Mulch can also help moderate moisture levels. Unmulched garlic plants are also more susceptible to weed growth, which can impact yield so mulching is important. See our detailed article here on everything you need to know on how to plant garlic.
4. Plant Cover Crops
Plant Cover Crops – Every season, vegetables that grow in your garden take out nutrients from the soil. Plantain Cover Crops will in the fall help Feed the Soil.
Cover crops add nitrogen to the soil. Cover crops are also known as green manure because they add valuable nutrients to the soil.
They improve soil structure, increase water infiltration and retention, and reduce erosion. Cover crops can also suppress weeds and help control diseases and pests.
What are some good cover crops? There are many good cover crops, but some of the most popular ones include alfalfa, hairy vetch, winter rye, and annual ryegrass. Here I am planting winter rye and hairy vetch mix from high-mowing organic seeds, I sprinkle the seeds and gently rake them into the soil. Check out all the High Mowing Organic Seeds cover crops here.
5. Amend Soil With Compost to Prepare Your Garden for Winter
If you are not growing cover crops, instead you can at a layer of compost to the soil. This will give the compost time to break down and provide nutrients for your plants. It is important to use organic compost. You can make your own compost or purchase it from a garden center or nursery. Having it delivered is typically the cheapest. Use google maps, zoom in on your location, and type in Organic Compost. If you have questions on composting, see my composting 101 guide here.
6. Mulch To Prepare Your Garden For Winter
Cover the Bed with Mulch – Cover the bed with mulch to help with soil compaction and erosion. Mulch also prevents winter weed growth and provides food and habitat for soil organisms. This will help them thrive through the winter. I like to use leaf mulch which I pick up with my mower. After applying the lead mulch, spay it down the prevent them from immediately flying away I also like to add dead branches over them to further help prevent them from blowing away. Straw is also a wonderful mulch, and I find it blows around less but is not free like leaves.
7. Establish New Garden Beds in The Fall
Fall is a great time to start thinking about adding new garden beds. By getting a head start on preparing the beds in the fall, you’ll be ready to plant come spring. Not to mention, fall is a great time to be outside enjoying the cool weather before winter sets in. So why not kill two birds with one stone and get a head start on your spring gardening by prepping your beds in the fall? See my post here on how to build a raised bed.
8. Maintain Your Garden Tools
Maintain Your Garden Tools at the End of the Season – Gardening tools require regular maintenance to prolong their lifespan and keep them functioning properly. At the end of the gardening season, take some time to clean your tools and inspect them for damage.
Here are some tips for maintaining your garden tools at the end of the season:
- Clean your tools: Before storing your tools for the season, make sure to clean off any dirt or debris from them. This will help prevent rust and other damage.
- Invest in tool storage: Consider investing in tool storage solutions, such as a shed or a garden tool organizer. This will keep your tools safe from the elements and make them easier to find when you need them.
- Take care of your gloves and protective gear: Don’t forget to wash any dirty gloves and inspect them for tears or other damage. Replace any worn or damaged items before next season.
- Organize your tools: Consider organizing your tools by type or function. This will make it easier to find what you need and keep your tools in good condition.
- Sharpen blades and oil rusting parts: To keep your tools in top condition, make sure to sharpen any dull blades and oil any rusting parts. Fluid Film, made from sheep wool, is a natural option for preventing rust on your metal tools.
- Repair or replace any broken parts: If any of your tools are broken or damaged, be sure to repair or replace them before storing them for the season. This will ensure that they are ready to use again next year.
9. Take Notes On How The Growing Season Went
Fall is an excellent time to take notes on what went well (and what didn’t) in the garden. By keeping track of what worked well, you can make next year’s gardening season even better. Not to mention, it’s a great way to reflect on all your hard work and see how far you’ve come.
Here are a few ideas to consider when taking fall garden notes:
- What plants thrived in your garden?
- What plants didn’t perform as well as you hoped?
- Did you have any pest or disease issues?
- How was your watering schedule? Did you experience any drought or overwatering?
- Did you have success with any new techniques or strategies?
- Were there any plants that you wished you had grown more of?
- Were there any plants that you would like to try next year?
By keeping track of these things, you can make informed decisions about what to plant in your garden next year. And don’t forget to take some photos of your garden so you can remember what it looked like throughout the season!
10. Plan Your Spring Garden
As the leaves begin to change color and the temperature starts to cool, now is the perfect time to start planning your garden for next year. A great way to get started is by having your custom garden plans created with our tool Plan My Garden. Plan My Garden generates custom printable PDF schedules, and plant placement based on what crops you want to grow and your garden layout. Having a well-planned garden is essential for a successful growing season, so take advantage of this planning tool to set your garden up for success!
11. Organize and Purchase New Seeds
Fall is the perfect time to go through your old seeds, reorganize and identify which seeds you need more of for your garden next spring. When reorganizing your seeds, be sure to check the expiration date. Many seeds only remain viable for a year or two, if there are expired, might be time to replace those. Fall is also a great time to buy seeds to beat the spring rush. I recommend high-mowing organic seeds.
In conclusion, there are a few simple things that can be done in order to winterize a garden and make sure that it is prepared for spring. By weeding, planting garlic, adding compost, and mulching, you can ensure soil is healthy and rich. Additionally, it is important to take care of garden tools and to reflect on the past season in order to be more successful in the future. By taking these simple steps, any gardener can have a beautiful and healthy garden come springtime.
