It may seem too cold to think about your flower and vegetable gardens, but the winter months are perfect for planning, organizing, and sprucing up so when the weather breaks, you are ready to start planting. Taking some early steps during the coldest months of the year may also allow you to plant or prune shrubs and trees when it is most beneficial to their growth.
Gardening in Akron, Ohio, and the surrounding area can be challenging, especially for those growing vegetables, as the growing season can be relatively short. Get a jump start on the prep work to maximize that season and plant those early vegetables that can tolerate some cold spring nights.
Your winter gardening checklist
- Plan your vegetable, herb, and flower gardens. Draw diagrams, balancing colors, encouraging pollination, and creating best growth opportunities by rotating planting locations of vegetable plants. This also reduces the chance of diseases and fungi developing.
- Check your flower and vegetable beds. Mulch that has washed away can be replaced now to protect perennial root systems and prevent weed growth as weather warms in the spring. You also may trim damaged branches from shrubs and trees, but save pruning for spring, after early flowering trees and shrubs are done blooming.
- Clean your gardening tools, specifically clippers and pruners, with an alcohol-water solution to be sure they are ready for spring trimming.
- Go through any seed packets left from last year and discard those that are expired. For the most abundant vegetable garden, it is best to start with fresh seeds each year. Then schedule your order or plan your purchase for new seeds.
- If you are planning to start cuttings of trees or shrubs, start them now in a warm, sunny spot in your home.
- If the ground is not frozen, you can plant some ornamental shrubs and bare-root roses, as well as sweet peas, provided the soil is dry and you are able to turn your vegetable garden over and add some garden soil, compost or manure. Working the garden now also will allow you to get greens planted before the last frost.
Winter also is a great time to get your lawn mower tuned up and sharpened in preparation for those busy spring activities. You may also consider picking up lawn fertilizer so you are ready for that first feeding in the spring.
If you need supplies or guidance for planning your flower or vegetable garden in Akron, Ohio, or to design or improve landscaping around your home in the Canton and Akron area, contact the professionals at Boyle’s Nursery. For more information and to learn about Boyle’s full complement of gardening and landscaping plants and supplies click here.