What Do Professional Gardeners Do in The Winter Months?

When you think of a garden, what do you see? A bare patch of dirt, freshly planted and full of potential for the coming season? Do you picture a garden full of life, lush and overflowing with all the beauty that nature has to offer? Maybe it is autumn, when the bounty of harvest time and the beauty of fall take over the garden? Perhaps, you picture the cold winter month sand.

Winter?”, you may ask. “There is nothing to be done in a garden in the winter! The cold weather brings with it a deep sleep for all plants and there is nothing to do in the winter except for plan for the following year.” While this may sound like it may be right, it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Winter Gardening: A Pathway to Garden Success

Many people believe that when winter arrives, the needs of the garden are gone till the spring returns. This makes sense for most since nothing grows in the winter… at least outside.

According to Gardens By Lisa “The truth is, winter is the perfect time for gardeners to get ahead of the curve for next year.” Not only by planning for the next season but also by preparing and working proactively to allow your garden to be better the following year.

Think of it like sleep. Sleep is essential for the human brain for rest and recovery. That period of rest allows your brain to reorganize and learn from the experiences of the day, resulting in better performance the following day. A quality gardener takes this time of rest and respite and uses it to add value and strengthen the garden.

How Does a Gardener Use the Winter to Enhance a Garden?

Those who maintain a gardener year-round or book gardening services throughout the winter can attest to the benefits of the watchful eye of a professional year-round. A more robust, spectacular garden is often the result of winter gardening at the hands of a pro. How exactly?

• Protection

A quality gardener will account for the severity of the coming winter and if necessary, take extra precautions. This can mean extra mulch to protect the roots of sensitive plants or to protect plants that typically wouldn’t need any protection.

• Aesthetics

The winter months are a perfect time for sculpting and beautifying apple and pear trees. You can turn a tree into a sculpture that is meant to amaze during the winter months. Consider adding an animal feeder to encourage visitors and make the winter a little more exciting. Evergreens such as dogwoods bloom from March to May, creating a beautiful appeal to your garden all year.

• Maintenance

The winter months are perfect for maintenance. This means pruning, mulching and planting (for certain plants like apple trees) to ensure optimal garden health and shape in the spring. A winter prune is meant to promote growth while the summer prune is meant to restrict growth.

• Winter Blooms

There are many versatile spring bulbs that can be planted throughout November to December that produce beautiful blooms. Whether they are planted in layered pots or sunny areas, for some plants, you can expect stunning blooms from January onwards.

Why Choose Winter Gardening?

Working in the winter gives you an edge on the coming season, making your garden lusher, more diverse and more enjoyable, year after year. Preparation in the winter makes for less work and better results in the summer.

Abraham Lincoln said, “Give me 6 hours to chop a tree and I will spend the first 4 sharpening my ax.” Preparation is key to amazing results. Winter gardening is that preparation.

Clients who book and have gardeners work throughout the winter notice the difference. Instead of avoiding the cold weather, use it to your advantage! Don’t wait for the spring rush. Book a gardener now and see the benefits of winter gardening this year.