There is no point gardening in winter, is there? Isn't everything dead? It is a season of frosts and cold that is hardly likely to promote outdoor activity. However, this is a misconception because winter is not that different from any other season. It is just that the weather is colder and the growth rate of most plants slows down. Although many of the fragrant plants grown in the garden are resting through the winter months, the gardener is far from inactive, and in many respects, winter in the garden can be as busy as any other season of the year.
Plant care
Check the greenhouse or cold frame constantly for signs of pests or diseases, which take advantage of the protection. Pay attention to hygiene and remove plant debris to cut the risk of infection, particularly if you are reluctant to use chemical controls. Plants that are actively growing in a greenhouse, house, or sunroom need dead flower heads removed, along with any yellowing leaves, before mold starts to grow. Careful water management will ensure that flowering and growth is not impaired by under or overwatering. Woody indoor plants, such as Citrus, tend to produce soft, sappy growth if they are growing in a warm environment with poor winter light levels, and some pruning may be required to keep the growth balanced.
Heavy snowfalls can settle on plants, particularly conifers and evergreens with a larger surface area, and the weight can cause branches to bend or break. Knock the snow off these to help reduce damage, because a torn branch leaves an open wound for infections to enter in spring.
Protection
Save energy by insulating greenhouses and cold frames with bubble wrap or similar insulation. Reducing drafts will save on heat loss and plant casualties. Outdoors, new plants introduced since the previous winter will need protection if the weather turns severe. Wind tends to be the real killer, rather than low temperatures. Evergreens, plants growing in containers, and tall plants, including any over 18 in. that have not been firmly anchored, are the most vulnerable. They can be severely damaged by wind, which can loosen the roots, and need to be refirmed and staked or protected. If your garden is particularly windswept, you may wish to consider planting a windbreak of some sort to reduce the airflow. Creating shelter in the garden will also allow you to better appreciate the fragrance of the plants in the calmer air.
Another problem that the wind causes for these plants is the foliage drying out. Conifers and broadleaved evergreens suffer windchill damage when freezing winds draw moisture from leaves faster than it can be replaced, resulting in brown, dry foliage on the windward side. When the garden soil is wet or frozen, the roots are unable to take up water to replace the moisture drawn out of the leaves by the wind. A screen of woven plastic mesh or horticultural fleece on the windward side of the plant will reduce the wind's effects and protect the leaves.
Page 1 of 2 – On page 2, you'll learn how to improve the soil quality of your garden during the winter months for spectacular springtime blooms.
