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Help on how to prepare garden for winter freeze…
I want you to know how to prepare your garden for a winter freeze before winter arrives. That’s because cold winds start blowing and icy wets starts falling, it’s a lot easier to get your garden protected from the cold months ahead. Plus, the days just get shorter and shorter as winter looms. So protecting your garden from freezing weather before you’re facing short days is also helpful.
Ten easy steps to prepare your garden for a freeze:
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Blow out irrigation before a freeze:
If you haven’t blown out your irrigation systems, get out there and do it well before a freeze. That’s because water still in the lines can cause cracks and breaks. But, if you don’t know how to blow out your own irrigation before a freeze, get on the horn and call an irrigation company to have them help. In fact, you may want to get on an annual plan to prepare your irrigation before a freeze. That way the folks you hire will get it down for you auto-magically next time!
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Detach hoses & protect bibs from freezing:
Remove hoses that may still be connected to outside hose bibs. That’s because leaving them connected can lead to frozen or broken pipes. As well, insulate your hose bibs to protect them from freezing. Too, be sure to drain and store detatched hoses for winter.
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Care for water features before winter:
Some water features are designed to run all year. But, many others should be turned off and drained for winter. No matter what your water feature system is designed for, be sure to inspect it well before the freeze. That’s because it’s much easier to deal with any issues before things ice over for winter. And if you have a bird bath, be sure to keep it defrosted with these tips.
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How to protect garden containers from breaking in a freeze:
Not all containers are created alike. And if yours aren’t freeze proof (and sometimes even if they are), you may lose them during freeze-thaw cycles in winter. Ideally, store them in a protected location where they won’t be susceptible to these cycles.
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Protected potted plants from getting killed in a freeze:
If you have decorative containers filled with plants be sure to protect them before the freeze. First, small pots are more susceptible to freezing, so be sure to insulate them from the outside before it freezes. And no matter how big or small your containers are, be sure all potted plants have been watered in and drained before the freeze comes. In brief, this is because frozen dry soil can be more damaging than frozen moist, drained soil. And don’t wait to water until potting soil is frozen. That’s because you may damage your plants and your pots by watering at that time.Moreover, if you purchased plants that are still in nursery containers, it’s important to insulate them before a freeze. And there are a few easy ways to protect these kinds of containers for a freeze.
- First, you could wrap the pots with insulation.
- Second, you could moundwood chips or mulch around the pot.
- Third, you could dig hole and bury the pot most of the way in the soil.
When you do this kind of protection, the plant will be “heeled in” for winter. And later in spring, they can be transplanted into your garden soil (without the nursery container attached).
Finally, if you have a hoop house or greenhouse, consider storing plants in these, but keep an eye on them. They can still freeze up depending on how your greenhouse functions.
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How to protect plants in your garden before a freeze:
Plants in the ground, even hardy plants, can still take a hit in cold weather. So, prepare your garden plants for a freeze by trying some of these winter protection methods. First, consider draping and wrapping burlap around the most tender plants to help insulate them from the cold. But, don’t keep them wrapped up all winter. Instead, be sure to unwrap them when it isn’t freezing out! And protect garden plant roots by mulching them. But remember not to mound the mulch up around the woody top growth of your plants. Finally, don’t worry about raking all the leaves from your borders! That’s because the leaves will help insulate your plants’ roots. (However, there may be some places where removing leaves is a good thing. Learn more about that here.)
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Harvest before you lose crops & flowers to a freeze:
If you put in winter edibles like kale, parsley, chard and lettuce, consider taking in a good harvest before the freeze. Although these (and other) edibles will likely survive a freeze, the more mature leaves may take a heavy hit. Better to grab and store them than lose them! And the same thing goes for any herbs or flowers you want to enjoy indoors while winter rages outside. But, if you have root crops like carrots, parsnip or hardy turnips in the ground, you might want to let old man winter give them a kiss before you dig them up. That’s because a freeze can bring out their sweetness!
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Clear Debris from Gutters and Downspouts:
If you’ve ever had had your downspouts freeze when filled with twigs and leaves, you already know what a chore it can be to knock the ice out of them to clear debris and get snow and ice melts flowing again. Plus, this kind of a clog can create all sorts of other backups. And it might even damage the drains that protect your home. So be sure your gutters, downspouts and other drains are clear and running well before a freeze.
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Have winter garden tools easily accessible before it snows:
Having your snow shovel, snow blowing gear and any melting agents on hand is important to help you prepare your garden for a freeze. That’s because if your tools are far away, you might not be able to access them after snow drifts are blocking shed doors. Same goes for having to slip around on frozen sidewalks to access gear!
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Get your livestock cozy for winter:
Load up your hen house and barns with lots of extra bedding before a freeze hits your garden. That way your livestock will have extra insulation. And they can nestle down into the bedding to stay warm. As well, keep their feeders full and their waterers full and defrosted. That’s because they need to keep their crops and bellies full and well hydrated to tolerate winter cold.
Won’t snow protect my garden plants from a freeze?
If it does end up snowing, remember that the snow can help insulate plants from the cold. However, if the snow is heavy and weighing down branches and stems, try to get out with a broom or your hands and gently brush away the weight. That’s because too much of the white stuff can break fragile, frozen plants.
Will melting salt hurt my garden in a freeze?
If you like to use salt on your walkways to create safe entries to and from your home, go light on the salt. There are a few reasons for this. First, it doesn’t take much salt to melt the snow. And too much salty run-off into your garden beds can be detrimental to your plants.
Need more help with how to prepare garden for winter freezes?
The list above should really help you cover some of the biggest ways to prepare your garden for winter freezes. But you might still be wondering about other things you can do to get your garden ready for winter. If that’s the case, this next reference guide on getting your garden ready for a freeze might help. As well, getting on our lists here will ensure you receive timely, curated help. And you’ll get notified as soon as we open enrollment for any of our many gardening education programs too!
You might try using sand instead of salt. Sand may not melt the snow or ice, but it will give traction on icy paths. Once the snow/ice is gone you can just sweep it away with no worries.
Jade, sand is definitely a good alternative. I have found that it tends to make more of a tripping hazard on stairways than salt. Have you found a way to make it work in these areas?