Harsh weather conditions of any
kind can be tough on your garden, and winter tends to have some of the harshest
conditions. Even if you don’t live in a cold-weather climate, winter rain can
do some serious damage to plants and garden decor a like. If you've invested
time and money into your garden and acquired lots of equipment and decor to
keep your garden beautiful and healthy, you don’t want to replace those
elements every year after a harsh winter. Here are a few tips for taking care
of and preserving your garden elements to keep them functioning for the
long-term.
Caring For Equipment
In a world where much of the
manufactured equipment doesn't last as long as it used to, it’s important to
take extra care to ensure that you don’t have to purchase new equipment every
year. Garden hoses, pond filters, bird feeders, and other equipment can take a
beating. When the weather begins to settle into winter, take extra care to
evaluate what you can remove from the outdoor space and take indoors to
hibernate for the winter. Remember that not being able to find something is
almost as costly as breaking it. Set aside space in an out building or your
garage to store the equipment in an organized way, so you can find what you
need next season, instead of having to go out and buy a new one. Rather than
leaving a hose coiled up on the side of your garage, bring it inside to prevent
it from cracking or drying out. Hang hoes, shovels, and gloves in designated
areas.
Caring for Decor
Decor needs extra care. You can
leave it out all winter long, and the snow may look quite fetching on it, but
chances are your decor will decay sooner if it’s not removed during harsh
winter weather. Road salt and sand can also take a beating on it, if your decor
is anywhere near a road. Mill
Race Garden Centre has lots of decor options and may
be able to suggest ways to care for decor. As a rule, cover your decor elements
with tarp or plastic to keep sand and salt off of each item, or remove them
from the garden altogether, and place them in a safe, warm location for the
winter. They will certainly last longer with proper care. Some decor will take
more care than other decor, so at the time you purchase it, you’ll want to make
sure you’re aware of how delicate each product is. Be sure it can weather at
least three of the seasons out of the year, so you don’t have to take it out
and put it away more than once a year. You’ll also want to be sure your decor
can hold up under constant watering when you water your garden.
Caring for Plants
Properly cover plant and flower
beds when the frost starts to set in. Many annual flowers were made to weather
the winter, but they may need some extra packing or fencing to keep them safe
throughout the winter. For many plants, you’ll also need to be aware of how
they will be affected by the first frost, which typically happens at night. Be
aware of when the first frost will come, and prepare accordingly. It can be
much more cost-effective to properly care for annual plants in the winter,
rather than purchasing new ones each year. Plants can last for many, many years
with proper care and nourishment, and so can your garden decor.
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