In the middle of winter, it’s easy to assume that your garden is on pause until the warmer months. But in reality, winter is the perfect time to prep your garden for a thriving, beautiful spring. With a little planning and preparation, you’ll ensure your garden is ready to burst into life when the snow melts. Here’s how you can use these quieter months to refresh your garden plan, spot opportunities for new features, get ahead on pests and soil health, and even book a design consultation for a truly stunning garden.
1. Refresh Your Garden Plan for the Coming Season
Winter gives you a unique opportunity to take a step back and think about your garden’s design and layout without the pressure of daily tasks. Review your garden from last year and ask yourself:
- What worked well? Maybe your perennials bloomed beautifully, or a particular corner of your garden flourished.
- What didn’t work? Were there areas that were underwhelming or overcrowded? Did certain plants struggle due to poor sunlight, soil, or drainage? Was colour missing during a time of season?
Now is the time to make adjustments. You can sketch out a new layout for your garden or simply rearrange your current plan to improve flow and aesthetics. For example, think about adding new plants or changing the location of existing ones to ensure they receive the best sunlight or complement one another more effectively.
In Ontario, with winter taking up such a large portion of our years, planting for four-season interest is imperative. You want to incorporate early spring bloomers, summer perennials, fall foliage and even evergreens for year-round beauty. If you’ve had issues with too many weeds or bare spots, this might be the perfect opportunity to think about adding ground cover or integrating more native plants that will help with overall garden health.
2. Spot Opportunities for New
Features
Winter is an ideal time to plan for new garden features that could enhance your outdoor space. Whether it’s installing a new water feature, bubbling rock, creating a cozy seating nook, or adding paths to improve accessibility, planning ahead ensures that you have everything in place when the weather warms.
Some ideas to consider:
- Create a focal point: Consider adding a sculpture, birdbath, or other decorative item that brings attention to a specific area of your garden.
- Garden structures: Whether it’s a trellis for climbing plants or a pergola to provide shade, these features can elevate your garden’s style and function.
- Add more wildlife-friendly elements: Install birdhouses, bat boxes, or bee hotels to attract beneficial wildlife like pollinators. This can help your garden thrive and contribute to the local ecosystem.
Planning these additions now will allow you to organize your space, order materials, and even secure any professional help well ahead of the spring rush, making the process smoother when spring arrives.
2. Spot Opportunities for New
Features
Winter is an ideal time to plan for new garden features that could enhance your outdoor space. Whether it’s installing a new water feature, bubbling rock, creating a cozy seating nook, or adding paths to improve accessibility, planning ahead ensures that you have everything in place when the weather warms.
Some ideas to consider:
- Create a focal point: Consider adding a sculpture, birdbath, or other decorative item that brings attention to a specific area of your garden.
- Garden structures: Whether it’s a trellis for climbing plants or a pergola to provide shade, these features can elevate your garden’s style and function.
- Add more wildlife-friendly elements: Install birdhouses, bat boxes, or bee hotels to attract beneficial wildlife like pollinators. This can help your garden thrive and contribute to the local ecosystem.
Planning these additions now will allow you to organize your space, order materials, and even secure any professional help well ahead of the spring rush, making the process smoother when spring arrives.
3. Get Ahead on Pests and Diseases
A successful garden doesn’t just depend on beautiful plants—it’s also about keeping your garden healthy by controlling pests and preventing disease. Winter is a great time to research any pest issues you had in the previous year and plan your strategy.
Here’s how you can get ahead:
- Pest Management: Look for signs of pests that could have over-wintered in your garden, such as egg sacs or damaged plant material. Certain insects, like aphids and scale, can survive the winter in the form of eggs or larvae. Plan how you will manage them come spring. You can also order natural pest control like beneficial insects – think ladybugs, nematodes and praying mantis – to have on hand, ready to introduce as soon as the temperatures rise.
- Disease Prevention: If you experienced plant diseases, now is the time to address them. Remove any diseased plant material and clean your garden tools thoroughly to prevent the spread. You can also research organic or non-toxic fungicides and insecticides to have on hand for early treatments. Regularly cleaning and maintaining your garden tools during the winter months also ensures that you’re not inadvertently introducing pathogens come spring.
- Neem oil and dormant oil: These are great organic products you can apply in late winter or early spring to prevent overwintering pests and certain fungal diseases from coming back. It is important to spray any fruit bearing trees in late March/early April before the buds burst to prevent damage to your crop.
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4. Focus on Soil Health
Good soil is the foundation of a healthy garden. Winter is a perfect time to focus on improving your garden’s soil for the best results come spring.
- Soil testing: Consider doing a soil test if you haven’t already. This will help you determine the soil’s pH, nutrient levels, and other important factors. Testing your soil in winter allows you to plan any amendments ahead of time.
- Compost and Amendments: You can start building or adding to your compost pile during winter. A rich, well-rotted compost will provide your plants with the essential nutrients they need to thrive in the spring.
- Mulching: If you didn’t mulch last fall, consider adding a layer of mulch with your spring clean up. It can help regulate soil temperatures and protect plant roots from extreme winter cold. A natural shredded pine bark mulch is recommended. It will break down over time, adding organic material to your soil.
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4. Focus on Soil Health
Good soil is the foundation of a healthy garden. Winter is a perfect time to focus on improving your garden’s soil for the best results come spring.
- Soil testing: Consider doing a soil test if you haven’t already. This will help you determine the soil’s pH, nutrient levels, and other important factors. Testing your soil in winter allows you to plan any amendments ahead of time.
- Compost and Amendments: You can start building or adding to your compost pile during winter. A rich, well-rotted compost will provide your plants with the essential nutrients they need to thrive in the spring.
- Mulching: If you didn’t mulch last fall, consider adding a layer of mulch with your spring clean up. It can help regulate soil temperatures and protect plant roots from extreme winter cold. A natural shredded pine bark mulch is recommended. It will break down over time, adding organic material to your soil.
5. Book Your Garden Design Consultation
Winter is also the time to book a garden design consultation if you’re considering professional help. Many landscape designers have their busiest months in spring and summer, so booking early will ensure that you get a spot in their schedule.
A garden designer can help you:
- Maximize your garden space by suggesting new plant pairings or adding features like water features, pathways or sitting areas.
- Choose plants that will thrive in Ontario’s climate, taking into account the local soil, sun, and weather conditions.
- Suggest eco-friendly practices, like water-saving techniques and pollinator-friendly plant choices, to make your garden more sustainable.
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While winter might seem like the off-season for gardening, it’s actually the perfect time to prepare for a beautiful, healthy garden. By refreshing your garden plan, considering new features, staying ahead of pests, improving soil health, and booking a design consultation, you’re setting yourself up for a garden that will thrive when the snow melts. The hard work you put in now will pay off in the form of vibrant blooms, lush foliage, and an outdoor space you’ll love to enjoy all season long.
Happy gardening!