Winter Garden Preparedness In Canada

by Jennifer Smith November 27, 2018

Preparing a garden for winter in Canada requires gardeners to work on gardens early in the fall season. Now that the days are shorter, and the nights are cooler, gardeners must act diligently on preparing gardens for winter time (aka: a lot of snow). Here are tips to prepare gardens for the winter season:

1. Remove or cut back plants: Not only will your garden look healthier, but the plants themselves will not suffer from plant diseases or unwanted rotting fungus.

2. Clean up leaves on lawns: Fall means falling leaves; but it's time to scoop up leaves and bag them before winter. Leaving leaves on landscapes will bring in more pests, including deer, that are hungry and scouting for food.

3. Cover [root] plants on the ground. Plants need warmth to stay strong during the harsh winter conditions in Canada. Take plants inside or move them to a cold frame. If neither are options, cover plants with blankets or cloths to keep the ground warm.

4. Keep deer away from gardens: While gardeners may think that their deer troubles are over in the winter, they are wrong. In fact, they will see a lot more deer in the early morning hours and late evening as deer search for food. Keep deer away from winter plants with deer fencing.

Winterizing gardens is a must for growers and can help in planning for the next growing season.