Doing winter garden tasks now will help your plants thrive this year.
Winter is the perfect time to give your garden a strong start for the year ahead. A little attention now to winter garden tasks will help your landscape thrive through the growing season.
Build soil health
You can improve soil health by adding mulch beneath trees and across garden beds. Mulch suppresses winter weeds, protects the soil against weather extremes and conserves moisture as the weather warms. As mulch breaks down, it slowly adds nutrients to the soil and feeds the tiny organisms that create a thriving ecosystem. View our post on how to use mulch in your yard and contact us to schedule mulch service.
Check your soil
Winter is a good time to assess your soil health. A soil test can reveal pH, nutrient levels and organic matter so you can make improvements. The King Conservation District does soil testing, and Snohomish County Master Gardeners lists more soil testing resources.
Support plant health
Most plants are dormant in winter, providing a chance to evaluate plant performance in your yard. Note which plants thrived last year, and which struggled. Consider replacing disease- or pest-prone ornamental plants with more resilient varieties. Oregon State University shares a list of resistant cultivars for some common garden plants. You can find more ideas at your local garden store or through Great Plant Picks.
Address lawn moss
Moss in your lawn may be a sign of issues such as poor drainage, too much shade, acidic soil or low fertility. Addressing these issues leads to a healthier, denser lawn that naturally resists moss. Read more in our post, Best moss control strategy is healthy lawn, and reach out if you’d like help improving site conditions.
Rethink outdoor living areas
Winter is a good season to reflect on how you use your outdoor spaces. Are you picturing a patio for relaxing and gathering with friends, a path that makes the backyard easier to reach, or lighting that makes your yard safer and more inviting? Our landscape design and installation teams can help bring those ideas to life.
Plan your vegetable garden
You can also begin planning this year’s vegetable garden now. Use the winter months to browse seed catalogs, visit local nurseries or explore Tilth Alliance’s recommended vegetable gardening books and gardening classes.
Start or review a garden journal
If you don’t already have a garden journal, winter is a great time to begin. A journal helps you keep track of what works, what doesn’t work and ideas to try in the coming season. If you already keep notes, use winter to review them and plan improvements for the coming season. Read How to create a garden journal from Piedmont Master Gardeners.
Prune trees in winter
Winter is also a great time to prune your trees. Pruning during dormancy makes branch structure easier to see. Pruning helps to shape your trees and guide future healthy growth. Read more in our winter pruning blog post. Plant Amnesty has many informative and entertaining pruning videos, organized by playlist.
Add companion plants
Finally, consider sowing seeds for companion plants that can attract beneficial insects, encourage pollination, build soil health and help deter pests. Learn more from Nature’s Path’s article on companion plants and City Fruit’s information about companion planting and fruit trees.
