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Lawn, Garden & Landscaping

2012-11-09 08:52:04

What can I do in winter gardening?

Q- I recently developed a love of gardening. As my fall garden is beginning to die out, I am wondering what I can do in the winter to keep busy and to keep my yard looking nice. Any ideas?

A- Just because winter is here does not mean you have to pack up the gardening tools or ideas. Actually, there is plenty to do in gardening all year, and what you do in the winter months can be the most important and exciting part of the process. First, the winter months are perfect for getting the yard in order. Consider using the time to clean up leaves and take care of any other issues such as invasive weeds. You could add borders or groundcover in appropriate places while you are not busy just tending to plants. Next, consider using the time to develop and start implementing a garden design plan. The winter months can be a great time to add elements of interest such as stepping stones or decorative features such as fountains. having them in place before spring will make it easy for any other elements to grow around them. When your garden is in full swing and yard in full bloom, it is difficult to see it in your mind as it looks in winter. This makes it hard to create a concept that looks great all year. Take pictures now and plan your garden design for next spring by looking at what you feel is missing and where. Rather than thinking flowers, think structure and texture. Find out how different trees and shrubs look in the colder months and then picture them in those places that seem lacking. When it warms up, talk to a professional about when would be good time to plant those new elements. Another option to consider is green house gardening. You could test out your skills, and incubate your own plants for spring planting. Indoor gardening is another worthwhile task. While it may have its limitations, it does feed your gardening creativity.