Putting The Gardens Away For Their Winter’s Nap
Submitted by Joan Regan
It’s getting late Women, get out and put your garden to bed. With all the rain we have had this gardening season the gardens have been beautiful, so lush. However, it is starting to look a bit tired now, so it is time for its long Winters nap. Not too long I hope.
Everything looked so good this past gardening season, so happy, so lush. For the past few years I have just been walking away from my gardens. Anything in a pot or container that was sitting on something went on the ground. Last year I missed a corner of the garden and lost a few plants in pots/containers, so this year I have been triple checking to make sure I got them all. So many in containers now. Smaller ones I grouped together, the rest just stay right where they are and they have been fine. I don’t cut them back, leaving all the tiny critters (most of them beneficial), and since doing this the gardens all look much happier.
After losing some plants potted up a couple of years ago, I make sure all my containers have good drainage and on the bottom as well. If too high up, when the snow melts and there is water sitting in the bottom it is a sure death for any potted plants.
My larger containers have perennials (not just Hostas) in them. Ferns especially love living in a container. Day Lilies, Astilbe, and of course the Ferns, several types potted up. A few other Perennials also seem to love the large containers and are happy spending their long Winters nap in our zone 4 gardens and containers.
All my tools will get a wipe down with an oily rag and put away in their Winter home. The smaller ones go in a couple of pots with an oily rag wrapped around them. Wheel Barrows tipped up, larger empty containers on their sides, tools away in the sheds and I will be ready. And it’s see you in the Spring.
Now it’s on to my much neglected House Plants. They will be so glad to see Mom again. Just hoping this rain will stop long enough for me to get done all I have neglected to do outside.
Singing “Rain, rain, go away”.
jpregan@amtelecom.net 519 596 2389
