Dr. Karen Bell

Keep Liberty Beautiful

It has been cold outside, and I remember what my grandmother told me, “Put on layers before you leave the house because once you leave, you cannot put on what you don’t have!” So, I have my layers on to stay warm, do you? It also made me think about the flowers and trees we just planted for Bring One for The Chipper 2024 and the ones from last year. I wondered how they were doing in all this cold. People have also asked me what they should do with a garden during the winter. I refer them to Amanda, Keep Liberty Beautiful Garden expert, and she helps them with great information.

Last year, I found this online article “7 Simple Steps to Winterize Your Garden,” where Stacy Tornio identifies the most essential, must-do tasks for your garden. I will share with you what she recommends: Step 1: Clean out all the weeds.

You should clean out dead leaves, plant parts, and any invasive or diseased plants. It’s essential to get out pretty much anything you wouldn’t want in your garden during the growing season. If you suspect a plant might be infected because it was infested with bugs, didn’t grow well, or had odd coloring, now’s the time for it to go. You don’t want those plants to continue invading your garden.

Step 2: Protect your new garden beds.

As the plants are getting established, adding a little extra coverage over the winter doesn’t hurt. Try a garden cloche and drape it over your entire garden area.

Step 3: Plant your bulbs. This doesn’t fall in the “clean-up” category, but it’s still an essential list item to get done before the ground freezes. Plus, there’s a reason it’s on the winter list. Many times, gardeners have trouble planting bulbs. Either the ground is too hard, or they have clay soil, and they never seem to get the hole deep enough. In most cases, you need it several inches deep so it has adequate protection over winter and is ready to bloom in spring.

Step 4: Give your plants one last drink, and then turn the water off.

Before you turn off your water for the winter, you’ll want to give your garden a nice long drink. This is especially the case for new trees, shrubs, and perennials. You don’t have to worry about keeping the watering up through frost time. When you turn your water off, be sure to empty and store hoses, rain barrels, and other gardening supplies so they don’t crack from the cold.

Step 5: Put a winter jacket on your trees, shrubs, and rose bushes.

When you’re trying to establish trees, shrubs, and rosebushes in your backyard or garden, they often need extra protection from those harsh winter winds. You can make your own using garbage bags, burlap, landscape fabric, or large cardboard boxes, or you can buy them. You just want to ensure you secure them well, so they don’t blow off on the most frigid days.

Step 6: Dig up your tender plants.

Suppose you have cannas, dahlias, elephant ears, or other sensitive bulbs and tubers like these. In that case, you need to dig them up before winter. You’ll want to place them in a dark location. Then in spring, you can replant them for another season.

Step 7: Add some extra mulch.

Having good mulch in your garden is one of the single best things you can do as a gardener. It adds organic matter to the soil, naturally deters weeds, and further insulates and protects the plants. If you have areas of your garden looking a little bare, add mulch before those cold temperatures hit. Even if you don’t like to place a jacket or cloche your plants, this can help so much because it will protect the roots and the area of the most vulnerable plants. On a budget, then try using your leaves as mulch.

I hope these tips help you have a wonderful garden. If you want more information, contact Keep Liberty Beautiful at (912) 880-4888 or email at klcb@libertycountyga.com. You can also check our information at www. keeplibertybeautiful.org.