Winter Gardening: Taking Advantage of the Blank Canvas
Winter can be a challenging time for gardeners, but it also presents some unique opportunities. With the garden bare and dormant, it’s the perfect time to take a step back and assess your landscape. Here are some tips on how to make the most of the winter months in your garden:
Rearranging Plants
Winter is a great time to rearrange plants in your garden. With the leaves gone, you can easily see the structure of your plants and how they interact with each other. If you’re not happy with the placement of a plant, now is the time to move it.
Removing Plants
If you have any plants that you’re no longer happy with, winter is the time to remove them. This is especially true for plants that have become too large or invasive. When removing plants, be sure to dig up the entire root system to prevent them from coming back.
Planning for Spring
Winter is also a great time to start planning for spring. Take some time to think about what you want to change in your garden and what new plants you want to add. You can also start planning your planting schedule and ordering seeds.
Perennial Garden Revamp
If you have a perennial garden, winter is the perfect time to revamp it. Perennials are plants that come back year after year, so it’s important to make sure they’re planted in the right place and getting the right amount of sunlight.
Height-Based Planting
One way to revamp your perennial garden is to plant according to height. Shorter plants should be planted in the front of the garden, while taller plants should be planted in the back. This will create a more visually appealing and balanced garden.
Dealing with Overgrown Plants
Sometimes, plants can get too big for their space. If you have any plants that have outgrown their spot, you can either move them to a new location or cut them back. Cutting back plants will encourage them to grow more compactly.
Making the Most of Winter
Winter doesn’t have to be a dead time in the garden. By taking advantage of the blank canvas that winter provides, you can make some changes to your garden that will benefit it for years to come. So get out there and start planning!
Additional Tips:
- When moving plants, be sure to dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep.
- Water your plants well after transplanting.
- Mulch around your plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Be patient! It may take some time for your plants to adjust to their new location.