As the Weather Turns Cold, Don’t Forget About Your Garden Upkeep

A handful of plants are highly sensitive to cold weather conditions. If you don’t take precautions before the winter finally creeps in, your precious garden plants might not make it through the harsh season—especially when the conditions are very severe. Whether you own a garden or are planning to start one, following the tips below will do you some good. They’ll especially work if you aim to have healthy, thriving garden plants long after winter is over.

• Drain irrigation line

One thing people dread about winter is the fact that water mostly freezes. While that might be good news if you like to make a snowman or launch a snowball at your friends, it’s bad news if the water in your irrigation lines solidifies due to a drop in temperatures. So, crosscheck that you’ve drained your irrigation lines properly.

• Assemble a cold frame for your garden

Cold frames offer protection to plants from strong winds, frost, and also help in heat retention. You can assemble a cold frame with PVC pipes and fit them over rebars driven into the soil. Ensure you keep your frame closed at night.

• Irrigate, irrigate, irrigate

Your plants need water to survive; if the temperature is steadily dropping, irrigate your plants and let the weather channel be your go-to during this period. Also, make an exception for succulents since they conserve a lot of water, which could freeze when the winter really kicks in.

In terms of the soil freezing, it’s possible if the winter is severe. However, one solution is to water your garden thoroughly before the winter hits pretty hard. This way, even if the ground freezes, some moisture will remain locked in, which will help conserve heat and produce fantastic soil after the winter is over.

• Cover your plant

Some plants are more susceptible to the cold, so you might want to cover them to keep them warm. You can use a cardboard box or large cans to cover cold-sensitive plants. Ensure you cover from the ground up. The idea is to trap warm air for the plant’s use. This way, the warmth in the soil keeps the plant warm during the cold. Also, you can move some plants close to the building if they are in pots.

• Keep your plants warm

If it’s the Armageddon of winter, and it appears watering and covering won’t be enough. It might be best to move your plants and apply layers of straw, mulch, or even blankets. Just make sure you provide warmth to keep them from freezing to death.

• Care for your plants indoors

Place your indoor plants close to the window and ensure you water them. If you have a greenhouse, ensure you have the best greenhouse plastic to keep the plants protected throughout winter. When you are watering, also ensure you drain out the water at the bottom of the container to avoid water-logging. If you don’t, then the roots will die due to the build-up of salts.