Preparing for Winter: 10 Gardening Strategies to Keep Your Spirits High

To reign victorious against the chilly clutches of the cold season without a dampened mood, it’s a given that we must master some winter gardening tips.

So, here are some strategies to keep your spirits high while you ride out the winter season before resuming your gardening.

10. Consider Indoor Gardening

Here’s an idea: Move some of those potted plants indoors. Then, prep a cozy spot with direct sunlight, and you’ve got yourself a mini garden inside the house. Throw in some winter lettuces or a salad green in the mix, and suddenly, the constant supply of fresh greens doesn’t seem like a far-fetched idea.

9. Plan for Next Year’s Gardening

You don’t have to wait until the new year before planning for the start of gardening in the spring. You can take the winter time to prep for the new gardening season by determining new plants or crops to add and what to remove. You’d be amazed at how much you’d enjoy it while passing the time.

8. Shop for New Plants and Seeds

Consider trying new seeds, flowers, and other plants in your garden, and winter is the best time to prepare. You can shop for these new additions; a garden market typically has many options. By the time spring rolls around, you have everything needed for a splendid gardening season.

7. Prepare the Soil

Whether planting in a plain old planting box or a top-tier raised bed, preparing the soil is crucial. This is especially important when you decide to plant a crop in your garden during winter, but you can also do this ahead of spring, although it depends on the state of the soil. Be it lettuce or beetroot, every seed benefits from a well-prepared bed. 

6. Try Bird Feeding

Think about it this way: just like young plants, birds also need a little extra boost in the colder months. By setting out bird feeders, you attract birds which, in turn, have a knack for keeping pests away, and you may have the best time watching all types of bed flock to the feeders.

5. Plant Winter Vegetables

Get your hands on the best winter vegetables out there, such as Brussels sprouts, leeks, and turnips. These rough and tough greens stand firm even when the weather turns chilly. Investing in these will make your garden look green even in the white of winter while keeping you occupied.

4. Prune Trees

Busy yourself with some tree pruning! Winter is a great time to shape up those deciduous trees and shrubs. They’re all bare, and it’s way easier to see what you’re working with, plus it’s less stressful for the trees.

3. Join Online or Community Gardening Groups

Extend your growing season by becoming part of an online or community gardening group. The folks there know a thing or two about winter gardening, and often, they’re more than happy to share. Plus, it feels pretty good to be part of a tribe that loves the dirt as much as you do.

2. Repair or Upgrade Garden Structures

Things like fences, sheds, and greenhouses need a little TLC. Use the winter downtime to spruce things up. A winter garden or greenhouse can be useful if you want to keep up the gardening game during the colder months. So grab your toolbox and get to work!

1. Rest Like Your Garden

You’ve worked hard through the warmer months, so you’ve earned a rest. This downtime also lets you think about strategies for the upcoming gardening season, like figuring out the best way to get those air pockets deep into the soil. A good garden is about more than just tasty veggies; it’s also about reducing that carbon footprint and fending off frost damage.

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