As the vibrant colors of fall give way to cooler days, it’s time to start preparing your garden for the winter months. Proper preparation ensures your plants, lawn, and garden beds are protected from the harsh weather and ready to flourish in spring. Here’s your step-by-step guide to winterizing your Maryland garden.
1. Clean Up Garden Beds
Remove any spent plants, dead leaves, and debris from garden beds. This reduces the risk of pests and diseases overwintering in your garden.
Tip: Avoid pulling out the roots of healthy perennials—just cut them back to soil level.
2. Mulch to Protect Soil and Roots
Apply a fresh layer of mulch around trees, shrubs, and flower beds to insulate roots and prevent soil erosion.
How Much Mulch? Spread 2-3 inches of mulch, keeping it a few inches away from stems and trunks.
3. Divide and Plant Perennials
Fall is the perfect time to divide crowded perennials, such as daylilies or hostas, and replant them in other areas. You can also plant new perennials to give them a head start on root development before spring.
4. Prep Your Lawn
Fertilize: Use a fall lawn fertilizer to strengthen roots.
Aerate: Loosen compacted soil to allow water and nutrients to reach the roots.
Mow Low: Set your mower to its lowest setting for the last cut of the season to reduce the risk of snow mold.
5. Protect Delicate Plants
Wrap vulnerable shrubs, such as roses, in burlap or frost cloth to shield them from freezing temperatures.
6. Plant Spring Bulbs
Get a head start on spring blooms by planting bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths in fall.
Pro Tip: Plant bulbs 2-3 times as deep as their height and add a layer of mulch to keep them cozy.
7. Winterize Garden Tools and Equipment
Clean and store tools like shovels, pruners, and hoses to protect them from rust and damage. Drain water from hoses and irrigation systems to prevent freezing.
8. Add a Layer of Compost
Spread a thin layer of compost over garden beds to enrich the soil with nutrients that will break down over the winter.
9. Plan for Wildlife
Provide food and shelter for beneficial wildlife:
Leave seed heads on some perennials for birds.
Install a bird feeder or water source.
10. Evaluate Your Garden’s Needs
Take note of what worked and what didn’t in your garden this year. Use this time to plan new plantings, hardscapes, or other landscaping projects for next season.
Trust Scapers Landscaping for Your Winter Garden Prep
Preparing your garden for winter can be time-intensive, but you don’t have to do it alone. Scapers Landscaping offers professional fall cleanup and winterization services tailored to Maryland homeowners. From mulching and planting to lawn care and pruning, we’ll help your garden thrive through every season.
Contact us today to schedule your winter prep service and enjoy peace of mind all winter long.
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