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Winter Gardening

12/9/22  |  Rebecca Taplin

Gardeners usually spend the winter collecting seed catalogs and planning for the following spring. But we’d like to challenge you toilers of the soil to continue gardening this winter. If you have a sunny spot and the need for green, let’s see if you can keep your garden going all year round.

Climate change is changing our relationships to the seasons: more time spent inside on day after day of extreme heat, plus swimming in November (just ask Rebecca’s daughter: she did it last week!) are just two ways we’re seeing the impact. However, we’re still pretty certain that you can’t grow lettuce outside in December, at least not yet. Gardeners usually spend the winter collecting seed catalogs and planning for the following spring. But we’d like to challenge you toilers of the soil to continue gardening this winter. If you have a sunny spot and the need for green, let’s see if you can keep your garden going all year round.

 

Bring your garden inside

You may already put some of your houseplants outside for the summer; but have you ever thought about bringing some of your outdoor plants into your home for the winter? This is an entirely feasible suggestion: many “annuals” will overwinter just fine, and will be happy to go back outside once the weather warms again. Take geraniums, for example. They’re a popular annual here in New England. But did you know you can dig them up, shake the dirt off the roots, then store them upside down in a paper bag in a cool, dark place? Then you can replant them after the last frost the following spring. Lots of tuberous plants can be treated this way, such as dahlias and elephant ears. Just search “overwinter _____________ (insert name of annual plant here)” and save time and money in the spring!

 

One note: always check your outdoor plants for disease and pests, and treat them, before bringing them inside. The last thing you want is for your outdoor hibiscus to spread disease to your indoor spathiphyllum!

 

Add some evergreen to your colorscape

While most people think of garden colors as being red, orange, or purple, green is truly the dominant color. After the summer fades into fall and winter, those flower colors fade and what’s left is your evergreens. Hence our suggestion: add more evergreens to your outdoor space. Have you truly appreciated the number of shades of green there are? In addition, there are shiny options, such as holly, or fluffy bluish ones, such as juniper. Adding evergreens in different hues and textures will keep your garden interesting all year long.

 

Maintain your outdoor space

One way to continue gardening into the winter season is to spend time maintaining your yard. In the late fall and even into the early winter, many shrubs are ready to be pruned, fertilized, or even moved. As long as the ground hasn’t frozen, you can dig up a plant and move it to a new location. When it’s dormant, a plant can be transplanted without distressing it too much.

 

Take the time to learn about your shrubs and trees, and take care of them accordingly. Clear out dead branches, treat for disease, and prune as needed. Mulch your tulips and daffodils to protect them from the coming snow. There are dozens of maintenance tasks you can take care of during the winter months.

 

Bouquets aren’t just for roses

If you already have evergreens in your yard, consider bringing some of your prunings inside for a winter “flower” arrangement. My rhododendron has big, beautiful leaves that look impressive in a tight bundle. Bright red holly berries contrast with the slick green of the holly leaves. If you’re not sure what might look good in a winter bouquet, take a walk around your gardens, snip a little here and there, and try it out! I’m here to confirm that the smell of fresh pine in your home can’t be beat. Oh, and my mint is still growing, so that always goes into my arrangements these days.

 

Containers aren’t just for summer

Take one of your outdoor containers, fill them up with bright, delicate flowers, and bring it inside for a constant dose of summer all year round. Remember to keep your container in a bright, warm location; and keep the humidity high by placing the pot in a tray filled with pebbles and water. You can even put together an outdoor container, with a small evergreen, some cute winter-themed statuary, and some dried flowers, or even feathers, for an extra pop of color. Just make sure there are drainage holes if your container is ceramic. Otherwise, there’s a chance they could fill with water, freeze, and split apart (I know this one from experience).



We hope this inspires those of you who long for the opportunity to spend time in your garden. If you do your research, tap into your creativity, and work with what you have around you, you’ll be sure to feed your need for gardening even in the depths of winter. 

 

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