General Tasks for the Winter Garden
In January, gardeners have started a new calendar year but most of us are still weeks or months away from warmer weather and the spring gardening season when many of us dust off our tools and start to really think about gardening. (Okay, many of us never stop thinking about gardening.) HOWEVER, there is plenty that can be done in and around the garden during the winter months that will get you caught up from last season and/or set you up to launch into the coming season.
Weather is an obvious driver of how much you can, can’t or may not want to get done. Whatever your situation might be, here are some gardening tasks for the winter garden.
Build or Install Garden Structures
Winter can be a great time to build or install garden structures because there isn’t much, if anything, going on in the garden and you likely have more of that rare commodity - time. Any number of garden structures can be built in the garage, shop or shed. And if the ground allows for some digging during a period of warmer weather, you may be able to get away with larger structures that need some ground leveling or post hole digging. Just be aware of the temperatures if you’re pouring concrete and make any necessary adjustments in timing or protection.
If circumstances prevent you from going the DIY route, the same opportunity exists if you go the purchase and install route.
Here’s a short list of garden structures that I have built over the years: obelisks, trellises, privacy screens, arbors, pergolas, compost bins, fences, sheds, raised beds, and bird houses. Start simple with a bird house made from cedar fence pickets. Or build some raised garden beds using redwood boards.
I love using wood to build as much as I can. Redwood and cedar are a standard go-to for exterior projects for their looks and where the wood will come into contact with soil used for fruits and vegetables. I use pressure treated lumber and/or redwood and cedar for raised flower beds, arbors, pergolas, wisteria tunnels, and shed floor systems. Obviously, other materials have their pros and cons, with cost, longevity and ease of use being top considerations.
If you have the time and inclination, it is a good idea to seal and protect non-pressure treated wood with a food safe sealant whenever possible to extend the life of your structures.
Clean Tools and Ready Supplies
If you haven’t already, winter is a good time to clean and sharpen garden tools. Don’t forget to oil any moving parts on tools that you’ve cleaned. And sharpening tools doesn’t stop at garden knives and secateurs or loppers. I would recommend sharpening your hoes, mattocks, hatchets and maybe even a fancy shovel if it has a honed edge.
Take an inventory of your current stock of gardening supplies and make a list of things that you need to resupply. No harm in getting ahead of the game and it’s a good winter activity when you have the time (seems to be a theme here…).
Plants
Monitor plants and tubers that you’re overwintering to make sure they’re not rotting or drying out.
Prune shrubs and trees that bloom on new growth. This is typically done in late winter to early spring.
Leave annual and perennial flowers unclipped through the winter to provide interest, seed heads for birds, or cover for wildlife. But go ahead and cut back if any start to flop and look untidy.
Winter prune fruit trees to remove damaged branches, thin any overcrowding branches, open up the structure, and induce more vigorous growth later in the year. But don’t prune cherries, peaches, plums or apricots. Wait until early summer and only if truly needed. Here’s a link to a great video from UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology, featuring Mr. Orin Martin, where he covers several topics related to winter pruning apple trees.
Clean Up
I often use winter as a catch-up period when I get to tasks that slipped through the cracks or were intentionally walked by repeatedly as I thought to myself, “I’ve got to get to that one of these days.” This could include anything from weed removal (if the ground isn’t frozen solid or covered in snow), to material clean-up, to sorting through and cleaning pots.
If you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, you can clean the inside. Scrub the polycarbonate panels, clean up the floor and benches, oil the door and window hinges, if needed.
Prep
While it may be too early in your zone to start most seeds indoors (perhaps excluding spring salad crops, leeks or onion sets), unless you have a heated greenhouse, it’s a great time to start ordering seeds, laying out your planting plan, and assembling your seed starting supplies.
I think the main theme here and opportunity in the winter garden is really about capitalizing on available time and getting to things you couldn’t or didn’t during the more active seasons in the garden. So, let’s put down our books and phones, bundle up, and head out to catch up or get a head start in the garden!
