Winterizing Your Garden and Water Feature

Winter is definitely on its way, so now is the time to plan for next spring with some simple steps in the fall.

Pick up, Clean Up.   Remove fallen leaves, branches, and cones from your water feature and the garden in general.  This includes spent annuals and vegetables.  If any of them are diseased throw them away. otherwise, the leaves can head right for the compost pile. Large branches and cones will take too long to break down and should go to a recycling center.

Weeding is important now because you don’t want the weeds to get a head start in the spring.   Invasive plants should be removed as well.  Do not put weeds or invasive plants in your compost pile!  They will reappear when the compost is spread.

To Prune or Not to Prune.  Typically, fall and winter are not times to prune, except for evergreens and alpine perennials like Dianthus and Huechera.  Remember seedheads of some perennials provide food for birds in the winter.  Roses should be pruned in January, snow or shine. And for bigger blooms, apply Epson salts and compost a few inches from the stem.

Mulching Made Easy.  Mulch doesn’t have to be an elaborate mixture.  It can be whatever you have on hand or can easily find.  Mulch with bark, shredded leaves, pine needles or rice straw.  The idea is to keep the soil around the plants warm, but keep the mulch several inches away from the plant stem.

Running the Water Feature. On most Cascade Garden features, you can run them during the winter as well.  Just be sure that the pump is placed so it doesn’t freeze up.  And of course, if you are running it, pick up debris so it doesn’t clog the filter.  If you have fish in your pond, you need to protect them and take additional steps.  See the website of Flora Tropicana in Elk Grove at http://www.floratropicana.com/

Evaluate Your Garden Design.  In winter?  You bet.  It’s a great time to plan for next year.  Here are some questions to think about:

--What worked and didn’t work this past year?

--Take photos of the areas you want to address.

--What is lacking?  Fall colors?  Spring bulbs?  A water feature to sooth the nerves?

--More space for entertaining?  A veggie garden?

There are some great websites to help you think about what your goals may be:

 http://www.sunset.com/garden/landscaping-design/ 

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/

 Also, you should contact local landscaping companies for an evaluation and some suggestions.  Most companies do that at no cost.

But most of all, have fun!

Marc Krupin is the owner of Cascade Gardens, a foothills-based landscaping company. With over 25 years in the business, he can help you design the garden you’ve been wishing for.