Gardeners in Winter

What do gardeners do during the winter months? Well, I'll tell you what the don't do... hibernate! Winter is the time to plan changes and new projects. While the garden snoozes through the colder months it is a great time to take a good look at it. Just looking out the window over the cold landscape you can see if you might want to add different shrubs, bushes, trees or items to make you wintering garden as interesting as the summer. Bushes with berries or interesting seed pods and twig structure can add an artistic element as well as a place for birds to eat and rest if you have a feeder. A bench seat or stone pile adds an interesting element in all seasons as is the choice of materials to define the garden area whether raised beds or borders.

Now is a good time to get a head start on preparing for any repotting you will be doing or seed starting. Old plant pots are a treasure to have tucked away for future use as one plant our grows its space and is transplanted into a new one or a newly germinated seedling is potted to grow safely until the frost has past. This is a very rewarding project but it does take some preparing. Previously used pots need to be scrubbed clean in hot soapy water with a little bleach added to kill any unwanted organism or bug that may have been in the original soil or found a home in the pot since. Many repotted plants do not survive because of unknown contamination. While the winter is still upon us clean plant pots and gardening tools and organize everything so it is ready to use. The first day the warm spring sun warms your gardening fingers you will be very glad your tools and supplies are ready to begin another gardening adventure.