Putting the Garden to Bed for the Winter
Norm Mofjeld, Anoka County Extension Master Gardener
Fall is here, which means this is the time to prep your garden (and your tools) for a winter nap. To set yourself up for success in the spring, here are the jobs to get done now.
Clear Out the Bad
Most pathogens overwinter in plant debris, which means if you leave them in your garden, you are inviting them to come back next year. Diseased produce, plants, and any weeds with seed heads should not be composted as most home compost piles don’t get hot enough to kill them. Throw them in the trash.
Compost the Good
Immature healthy vegetables and annual plants make great compost for next year’s garden, as do all of those leaves you will be raking up off your lawn. Visit the University of Minnesota Extension site for tips on backyard composting to ensure your discarded green turns into black gold.
Prepare for Winter’s Sleep
Cut back certain perennials, like peonies. Others, such as coneflower, can stay through the winter and will offer food for birds and shelter for hibernating insects
Remove stakes, cages, plant markers and trellises to prevent weather damage
Pull remaining weeds
Rake garden beds, remove plant debris and stones, and level the soil
Test your soil now to learn what will grow best next year. The soil test report will provide recommendations about any nutrient deficiencies. Directions and pricing options are at https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/
Mulch now to prevent weeds later
Water perennials, trees and shrubs until the first hard freeze
Protect young trees and shrubs with tree guards or fabric to prevent winter sun scald and rodents. Compost or discard remaining fruit.
Don’t Forget the Tools
Your tools work hard during the gardening season, and they can be a source for spreading disease or pests like jumping worms. As part of your fall clean-up routine, scrub your tools well (and your flowerpots, too) and rinse and dry them thoroughly. Dull edges can damage your plants, so after cleaning, sharpen cutting tools and remove rusty edges with coarse steel wool. Wipe tools with 70% rubbing alcohol to kill pathogens, and then spray them with a protectant such as WD-40 or mineral oil to prevent rust. Proper care will extend the life of your tools and keep them in great working condition.
Fall tasks don’t need to be completed all at once; you can stagger them throughout the season, which will give you time to enjoy the beautiful fall colors and rake those leaves for mulching. If you invest the time and energy into putting your garden to bed, you’ll thank yourself in the spring when you can just focus on planting flowers and veggies!
For more information about composting, visit: Composting in home gardens | UMN Extension
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