Spring Garden Prep: Everything You Can Do Now to Prepare

Hello fellow garden enthusiasts! As we embrace the chill of winter, it’s the perfect time to channel our inner horticultural wisdom and get our Colorado gardens ready for the vibrant burst of life that spring promises. Here’s your guide to winter prep – ensure your garden thrives when the warmer days arrive.

🧹 Tidying Up: Spring Clean Before the Spring

Get a head start by pulling up spent annuals, trimming back dormant perennials, and clearing out any accumulated debris. This not only keeps things neat but allows for a fresh start once spring rolls in.

Pro Tip: Fallen leaves act as natural mulch and provide an extra layer of insulation for plant roots. Leave them until the weather warms up, then cover them with a new layer of mulch. 

🛡️ The Power of Mulch: Colorado’s Cold Weather Shield

In the unique climate of Colorado, where winter can be as unpredictable as a mountain trail, mulching is your garden’s superhero. A layer of mulch acts as an insulator, protecting the soil from temperature extremes. It also helps retain moisture, crucial during dry winter spells. Organic mulches, typically sourced from tree bark, are the most desirable form of mulch to use based on their ability to maintain consistent moisture and temperature.

Pro Tip: Snow actually acts as insulation from the cold. Rather than removing snow at the first flake, let it accumulate and melt on its own.

Bonus: Gorilla hair mulch, made up of shredded redwood bark, is a Sagewood favorite and can be found at many garden retailers.

💦 Hydration Matters: Give Your Plants a Winter Sip

Yes, even in winter, your plants appreciate a good drink. This is especially vital in Colorado’s arid climate. With adequate snowfall, only new plantings will need additional watering. Head out to the garden to give everyone a splash on a nice warm day before a hard freeze. The water will act as an extra layer of insulation, protecting the plants from winter injury. Water deeply on a rough schedule of every three to four weeks. However, only water when the soil is dry 4 to 6 inches deep. As temperatures warm, watering can increase to every other week. 

Pro Tip: Winter watering is ESSENTIAL for new plantings. Anything planted in the last two growing seasons will benefit from additional winter watering as they are still trying to establish their root system.

✂ Pruning Wisdom: Shape Up While It’s Cool

As horticultural gurus, let us share a secret: late winter is an excellent time for pruning. While deciduous trees are in dormancy, so are the pests! Remove dead or diseased branches, enhancing the overall health and appearance of your green companions before any new pathogens have emerged. This provides an additional opportunity to assess garden tools such as pruners, shears, and shovels to see what may need sharpening, cleaning, or replacing.

Pro Tip: Familiarize yourself with the specific needs of each plant variety. Depending on the plant, winter pruning may result in fewer blooms (or not at all!). 

Bonus: Not sure what’s in your yard? Schedule a consultation with us and we’ll solve that mystery together!

📐Plan for the Future: Dreaming of Spring Blooms

As the snow blankets your garden, take this time to dream of the blooms that will grace your landscape come spring. Plan your garden layout, research new plant varieties, and envision the masterpiece you’ll create when the world awakens. Our staff of educated landscape designers are more than ready to help you put all of the planning pieces together!

Pro Tip: Consider incorporating Colorado native plants for more efficient water use and to help out native pollinators.

🌱 Take Inventory: Know Where Your Seed Stash Stands

Take your garden prep to the next level by inventorying planting materials such as compost, soil, and seeds. Stay organized by creating a seed journal that documents when seeds are bought (or stored), how many are left, and how many plants you want to grow this season. This will also help prevent unnecessary seed purchases.

Pro Tip: Don’t throw out “old” seeds! Despite having “Packed for” and expiration dates, many seeds will still germinate years later. You can test viability by: 

1) Wrapping a few seeds in a damp paper towel 

2) Placing the towel in a plastic bag or covered see-through container in a warm, sunny spot

3) Checking for sprouts after seven to fourteen days.

🥕 Veggie Boost: Start the Garden Indoors

With a shorter (and temperamental) growing season than many other regions of the United States, it can be hard to get the most value out of the kitchen garden. Many seeds can be successfully started indoors with little setup six to eight weeks in advance. Imagine a garden that is already two months old by the time it goes in the ground! When placed by a sunny window, herbs can be grown inside year-round. 

Pro Tip: While many annuals and vegetables are cold sensitive, things like radishes and leafy greens don’t mind a bit of frost. Plant these in the garden come first signs of spring for an early harvest!

Bonus: We can provide consultations on both indoor and outdoor plants!

Happy gardening, and thanks for coming to us for your uncommon landscape advice!

~ Sagewood LandCare Consultants 🌿

---

Extra Resources:

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/late-winter-garden-and-lawn-care/

https://www.thespruce.com/get-garden-ready-for-spring-7112150