Written by: Deric Stowell – Mastering my Gardening since 2014

It’s not looking like winter yet, but we are in the winter months. If you are like me, you know that a gardener’s work is never done. Thankfully, it does tend to slow down.  In between the holidays and also after the start of the New Year, there are a number of things we can do that will keep us busy. Follow along as I explain some of them:

Caring for cacti and succulents – depending on their species, cacti will either bloom or go dormant in the winter. Most cacti are dormant during winter and active during the summer. Others, such as Thanksgiving cactus and Christmas cactus, bloom during the winter. You can move your potted cactus inside to better protect from the elements. Another thing to remember is not to feed at this time as they are dormant and not eating anything right now.

Clean and organize seeds you have collected. Clean them, label and maybe sort according to when you will want to plant them. For a handy video about making a seed cleaning screen, please visit this video: https://youtu.be/tKnPkwC5iYU 

Composting – During the cold of winter, the composting process slows but will continue breaking down. Make sure you turn it at least once before it freezes. If you are using a “hot bin” continue to turn as you normally would, about once a month.

Build new beds – sometimes you can find good deals on building materials. If so, plan and build new beds for your garden. While you are buying building materials, purchase any items needed to repair or improve your existing beds.

Support your local wildlife – your local wildlife will thank you for providing food and water. As an added benefit they may stick around all summer! Some birds and animals make nests for the winter months. You can help them out by not cleaning up your yard waste until springtime. In addition, the garden refuse is good protection for the valuable garden soil you have spent money and energy developing.

Pruning trees – As soon as the temps come down trees go into dormancy. Now is a good time to prune trees without causing damage.

Clean and sharpen tools – this is a great time to clean your tools. Use bleach water to sanitize them and then use a garden tool sharpener to prepare for next season. Here is a handy video to learn more about properly sharpening your tools: https://youtu.be/-oVmUcvnM0g  

Mulch and cover crops – before the first snow falls I like to add mulch such as straw or coconut hair around the base of my kale, swiss chard and other cold hardy plants. I do this so they are better protected for freezing weather.

In conclusion, there are plenty of things you can do when you feel the need to garden during the winter. As for myself, I tend to do all of these things, but I also look forward to a nice long winter vacation!