Winterizing Your Garden
Start with planting your spring-flowering bulbs. Daffodils should be planted first because they need some time to root in the fall. Fortunately, squirrels leave these bulbs alone. All the rest of your bulbs can be planted later, right up until ground freeze-up, when squirrels aren’t as busy digging in the garden. Empty clay and ceramic containers and store them safely in your garage or basement. Left outside, through cycles of freeze and thaw, there’s a good chance they’ll crack. If you have a concrete or ceramic birdbath, be sure to turn the bowl upside down so water can’t collect in it. This isn’t necessary if you intend to use a birdbath heater that provides birds with a constant source of fresh water all winter long. Turn the bowl(s) of your fountain upside down as well or cover it with a special fountain cover available at Sheridan Nurseries Garden Centres.
Clean, oil, sharpen and repair all your garden tools before storing. Rub linseed oil ont wooden handles to prevent cracks. Make sure sprayers are emptied and washed out with hot soapy water. Empty the gas tank on your lawnmower or gas trimmer as directed in the manufacturer’s care manual.
Lawns
Apply Parkwood® 10-0-14 Fall Lawn Fertilizer to strengthen grass roots and blades and build up disease resistance. Rake all leaves off the lawn before snowfall and make the last cut of the season shorter.
Annuals & Perennial Flowers
Remove all annuals from garden beds and containers, as they’re unsightly when killed by frost. Decaying plants in the garden also provide a perfect nesting site for insects to overwinter. Perennials need to be cut back close to ground level in late fall (except for the Ornamental Grasses, Lavender, and Russian Sage which are all pruned back in early spring). Compost all this material. For perennials that are less hardy, Chrysanthemums, or windswept areas, cover plants with Parkwood® 3 in 1 Planting Mix. This Planting Mix can then be worked into the soil the following spring.
Rhododendrons
These broadleaf evergreens as well as Holly, Oregon Grape, Mountain-laurel, and Japanese Pieris are very prone to windburn which is why planting them initially in a sheltered location is so vital. If this wasn’t possible and a plant has a lot of brown, burnt leaves in spring due to windburn or sun scald, you may want to surround it with burlap stapled to sturdy garden stakes. Into this open-topped tent, you can place a thick layer of leaves, soil, or mulch to help insulate the root zone and preserve moisture in the soil. Or you can spray the foliage with Wilt-Pruf that seals moisture in the leaves while still allowing the plant to breathe.
Evergreens
Upright Junipers and Cedars can be damaged from the weight of snow and ice bending branches down. These bent branches don’t snap back into place in April and need to be pruned off. To keep branches upright, purchase Parkwood® Winter Wrap and spiral down the full length of the evergreen.
Trees
Assorted rodents as well as rabbits and deer are partial to eating the bark of shrubs and trees like Crab Apples and fruit trees during winter. To protect tree trunks, spiral a plastic tree guard around them or spray the bark with bitter tasting Animal Repellent (both available at Sheridan Nurseries Garden Centres).
