Gardening doesn’t have to stop once the weather turns cold. There are many crops that can continue to grow throughout winter including vegetables and herbs.

You can also plant shrubs and trees that produce colorful berries to add interest to your landscape. Trimming hedges and removing debris from your lawn is another important task that can be done during winter.

Preparing Your Soil

Doing your soil a favor as winter approaches is the first step to winter gardening success. If you aren’t planning to add to your garden this season, fall is the perfect time to amend it with compost, mulch and fertilizer. A soil test will also reveal what nutrients are depleted in your area.

Planting shrubs and trees with colorful branches or textured bark is another way to add interest to the winter garden. Some, like the red twig dogwood or witch hazel, even bloom in the winter.

If you’re ready for some fresh produce, hardy greens and root crops like kale and rutabagas can be grown in a cloche or cold frame. It’s also a great time to plant bare-root trees and shrubs that can be dormant until spring. Just remember to protect them from frost! Then, if you haven’t already, remove dead stems and rubbing branches from your shrubs, trees and perennials. That will give them a clean look as they enter winter and be more resilient to harsh weather conditions.

Preparing Your Seedlings

Winter gardening may seem like a challenge, but it isn’t impossible. Many vegetables grow well in the cool season, including leafy greens, herbs and some veggies such as beans. The key is to experiment with what grows in your climate and zone.

Start seeds indoors in a container with a transparent lid or in seed trays to protect against frost and provide better germination conditions. If planting directly outdoors, cover plants with cloches to protect from the weather and insects.

Some shrubs and trees look good through the winter, such as red twig dogwood and witch hazel. Perennials like pansies and violas, as well as ornamental grasses, also add color to the garden in the winter. And don’t forget about berries, which can add a lot of interest to your landscape during the winter months. They also help feed birds and other wildlife.

Preparing Your Garden for Winter

After a long season of tending your garden, savoring the fruits of your labor and enjoying a delicious home-grown meal, you’re probably ready to put your gardening tools away for the winter. However, there is still a lot to do in the garden, from winterizing plants and caring for perennials to planting bulbs for spring.

Mulching is a great way to protect your soil over winter. It keeps the ground moist without allowing it to get too wet, which could damage the roots. Be sure to check on the mulch regularly, as it will need to be replenished as needed.

While some plants are best cut back after their blooms have faded, others (like sedums and ornamental grasses) look pretty through winter and their seeds feed birds and other wildlife. Some winter crops like kale and Brussels sprouts also taste better when exposed to frost. You can grow them in a cloche or cold frame, or even in a full-size greenhouse, so that you can enjoy them over the holidays.

Keeping Your Garden Healthy

Winter may not seem like a time for gardening, but it can still be a great time to plant and maintain a garden or outdoor growing space. Whether it’s pruning rose bushes, protecting vegetables from frost or simply cleaning and lubricating tools before storage, there are many tasks to complete that can keep you active outside while also keeping your gardens healthy.

One of the most important gardening tips for winter is to check soil moisture regularly, especially after rain storms. Waterlogged soils inhibit growth by preventing oxygen from reaching the roots. It’s also a good idea to fertilize the garden with compost or manure, as this will help improve the soil quality and nutrition. Aim to water plants only when the weather isn’t too cold, as freezing temperatures can damage new foliage and flowers. You can also continue to harvest year-round from vegetable crops by removing snow from cloches, mini hoop tunnels and cold frames.