November 20, 2024, 4:18 pm | Read time: 6 minutes

Winter is a dormant period in the gardening year. However, to ensure that the plants in the beds and containers survive the frosty period well, gardeners should get really active one last time and prepare the garden for winter. In this article, garden owners can find out what tasks await them.

When should you start to winterize the garden?

It’s all about choosing the right time to prepare your garden for winter. However, Mechthild Ahlers from the Lower Saxony Garden Academy does not adhere to fixed dates. “Especially in times of climate change, you can’t tell from a calendar, but only from nature, if and when winter is coming,” explains the consultant. For plants, taking action at the wrong time can be harmful. “If plants are wrapped up too early, they suffer and become susceptible to pests.”

Ahlers advises that if the thermometer is approaching zero degrees in October, November, or December, the gardener must bring some plants to safety. “Some plants can still withstand minus five degrees Celsius in the garden. However, potted plants should be wrapped up when temperatures reach five degrees Celsius, as their sensitive roots require protection from the cold by that time at the latest,” Ahlers advises.

Wrap up heat-loving plants

How a garden needs to be winterized ultimately depends on its design and planting. “If you have landscape plants in your garden, you don’t have to worry too much. They are robust and naturally hardy,” explains Ahlers.

The situation is different for heat-loving, frost-sensitive plants such as camellias, grafted roses that are not planted deep enough, and some Mediterranean herbs. They must overwinter indoors or be protected with foliage and jute.

It’s worth noting that a greenhouse alone does not offer adequate protection against frost and cold. On the contrary, it should also be made winter-proof. To insulate a glass greenhouse, you can use bubble wrap, for example. However, it’s important that the bubble wrap is translucent. Thanks to sufficient protection, the greenhouse can then also be used as winter quarters for frost-sensitive potted plants.

Winterize your garden: Leaves as natural frost protection

Leaves, a natural insulating material, are abundantly available in the fall. These can be spread over the beds. The German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (Nabu) compares the layer of leaves to a warm blanket that insulates the ground against frost. In particular, sensitive trees and shrubs, like shallow-rooted currants and gooseberries, can greatly benefit from this protection during cold weather.

However, what is good for flower beds can be fatal for lawns. The lawn should not be covered with leaves. “Lawn can suffocate under leaves. It needs light and must always be well aerated so that no fungal diseases develop,” emphasizes Ahlers.

Faded perennials provide shelter for insects

However, hobby gardeners should not cut back flowering perennials in the fall but in the spring. This practice allows insects to find shelter and overwinter within the hollow stems and leaf axils. Ahlers advises looking at the so-called phenological indicator plants for the ideal time to prune in spring. “When the forsythia flowers, the sap flow is guaranteed in all plants, and they have enough strength to sprout.”

Yet, late fall and winter are not times of complete rest; there are still tasks to attend to in the garden, even after it has been winterized. According to Nabu, you can now create mounds and raised beds, plant spring bloomers, and plant shrubs.

Winterize garden accessories

A garden is not just about the plants in the beds but also the equipment used to care for them. This also needs to be prepared for the winter. After all, these tools should continue to assist with pruning, watering, and tidying up in the upcoming gardening season. In the case of lawnmowers, secateurs, and leaf rakes, this means cleaning them and storing them in a dry place.

Turn off the water and secure water points

Water freezes below zero degrees Celsius. It expands and requires more space. Pipes, tubes, and hoses that are outside and contain residual water can be damaged. Therefore, it is advisable to shut off the water supply to the outdoor tap and simultaneously open the garden tap itself. Garden hoses should also be emptied and stored in a frost-free place.

Don’t forget any remaining water in watering cans and rain barrels. Both containers should be emptied. Store the watering cans safely with the other garden tools in the cellar, a garden shed, or the garage. Open the drain tap on rain barrels.

All types of pumps, whether in the rain barrel or the garden pond, should be winterized and stored properly. It is important to pay attention to the type of pump. For instance, submersible pumps should be kept in a bucket filled with water to prevent them from drying out.

Clean and store garden furniture

No matter what material garden furniture is made of, wind, weather, and frost will leave their mark on chairs and benches over time. To protect the furniture, you should clean it thoroughly before winter and store it in a sheltered, dry place until spring.

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Winter harvest possible

Even during the colder months, you can still harvest a variety of greens, including lollo lettuce and oak leaf lettuces, lamb’s lettuce, garden cress, arugula, Asian greens like mizuna and leaf mustard, pak choi, and various winter cabbages. Both open-air and raised beds, as well as cold frames and balcony boxes, are suitable for this – as long as they are as sunny as possible.

Even without the prospect of a harvest, a garden retains its charm from late fall onward. “We should learn to look at the garden with different eyes at this time of year,” emphasizes Ahlers. “Sunflowers covered in hoarfrost and withered, from which sparrows and goldfinches feed, have their very own magic.”

With material from dpa