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5 Top Winter Gardening Tips
Your love of gardening doesn't stop just because winter starts. In fact, it's a good time to reflect, research and even do some indoor gardening. Here are 5 things that you can do for your garden during the winter.
Repair and Maintain Tools
Sometimes you just don't have time during the summer or fall to repair your tools or equipment. Winter is the perfect time. Bring all your tools inside and carefully examine them one by one. Make sure to fully clean the tool, sharpen it and fix any damages. Tools that are properly maintained last longer and do the job more efficiently, which saves you time and money. If that doesn't convince you, then consider this: damaged tools are more likely to break and cause injuries. Ouch!
Start Seedlings Indoors
There are many reasons for starting seeds indoors. One, it lets you get a head start on the growing season, instead of waiting weeks for the ground to completely thaw. Two, after a long winter, it's nice to see some green, even if it is inside your house. Three, it just feels good to connect to nature and see plants grow before your very own eyes.
Tip: Use grow lights to ensure that your seedlings will get the light they need to grow strong and healthy.
Start An Indoor Garden
Your indoor garden will probably consist of a collection of plants in containers. It's a great way to add life and colour inside your house. Here are some tips to help you get the most of your indoor plants.
- Remember to regularly rotate the containers, otherwise your plants will start to lean to one side as they grow towards the window where the light is coming from. To keep them growing straight, simply turn each container a little bit every time you water the plant.
- Consider moving your plants to another room. With the decrease in the number of hours of sunlight, you may find that some rooms just don't receive enough sun during the winter months. If you need to, simply move your plants to a sunnier room – they will thank you for it.
- Don't limit your indoor garden to flowers. You can also grow herbs, tomatoes and even greens for salads. All courtesy of grow lights. But before you buy, do your research, as some lights are better for some plants than others.
Enjoy Winter Beauty and Wildlife
Whether you are going for a walk outside, or you are curled up in a chair beside the window, there is plenty to watch during the winter. Place birdfeeders near a window and make sure to keep it filled during the winter months, so that you can watch from inside your house as the birds come and go from the feeder. If you live near a ravine or a wooded area, you may also be lucky enough to spot other wildlife such as rabbits and deer. If you do plan to feed the wildlife, make sure that you do so consistently so that they don't go hungry. As well, do some research to make sure that the food you put out for them will keep them strong and healthy.
Plan Next Year's Garden
Use the winter months to help you plan your garden for next year. Take time to reflect on what plants you enjoyed in your garden, what you didn't like and if you felt that anything was missing. From there, go through seed catalogues and take note of what plants you would like to include in your garden.
Next, take some time to do some research on the plants that appealed to you. Go to your local library and look through different books and magazines. Find out how much maintenance they require, when they bloom and for how long. One way to achieve maximum enjoyment from a garden is to have lots of colour and to always have something in bloom, from spring to fall.
Finally, order any seeds you need before the start of the season. Seed catalogues will often tell you the best time to order, which will depend on where you live. Once you find out what date to place your order by, write it down on your calendar so that you don't miss it.
