GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK

Preparing a Perennial Garden for Winter

By Your Name Wanapheya Tolman

A sense of peace descends when a Add compost

perennial garden is put to bed for the
Organic matter is the key in-
season. The plants are safely tucked
gredient to healthy garden
in against the elements, and the gar-
soil. Composting adds nutri-
den is ready to welcome the winter.
ents to the soil, helps the soil
When the work is done, you can sit
retain water and nutrients,
back and anticipate the bright
and keeps the soil well aer-
blooms of spring. Many gardeners
ated. If you take care of the
are uncertain about how to close a
soil, your plants will become
perennial garden. This week’s col-
strong and disease resistant.
umn demystifies the process.
Before adding compost, use
Clean up an iron rake to loosen the top few inches of soil. Spread
Garden clean up can be a gradual process—plants will a one to two inch layer of compost over the entire gar-
deteriorate at different rates, allowing you to do a little den—the best compost is made up of yard waste and
bit each week. kitchen scraps—and then refrain from stepping on the
 Edge beds and borders and remove stakes, trel- area and compacting the soil.
lises, and other plant supports. Winter mulch
 Dig and divide irises, daylilies, and other early
Winter protection for perennial beds can only help
bloomers.
plants survive the winter. Winter mulch prevents the
 Cut back plants when foliage starts to deterio- freezing and thawing cycles, which cause plants to
rate, then rake all debris out of the garden and heave and eventually die. Here’s what works and what
pull any weeds that remain. doesn’t:
iPlant perennials
Fall is the perfect time to plant perennials1 . The warm, Always apply mulch after the ground is frozen.
sunny days and cool nights provide optimal conditions Never apply generic hay because it contains billions of
for new root growth, without the stress of summer weed seeds. Also, whole leaves and bark mulch hold too
heat. much moisture.
 Dig deeply and enhance soil with organic matter. Use a loose material to allow air filtration. Straw and salt
 Use a good starter fertilizer to speed up new root marsh hay are excellent choices for mulch.
growth and establish a healthy base. Remove the winter mulch in the spring as soon as new
growth begins.
 Untangle the roots of new plants before planting.
 Water after planting as the weather dictates, and
keep plants moist for several days.

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Fall is also a great time to plant shrubs and trees