Protect your garden through winter’s dormancy
❄️ Winter Garden Care
Winter isn’t idle time for gardeners! While plants rest, there’s maintenance, planning, and preparation for spring. It’s also time to care for indoor plants and protect outdoor perennials.
Key Focus: Protection from winter damage, indoor plant care, tool maintenance, and planning next season.
🌲 Outdoor Plant Care
Winter Watering
Yes, plants need water in winter!
- Water evergreens monthly if no snow/rain
- Water on days above 40°F
- Water in morning so it absorbs before freezing
- Focus on newly planted trees/shrubs
- Don’t water frozen ground
Mulch Protection
Apply after ground freezes:
- 4-6 inches around perennials
- Keep mulch away from plant crowns
- Use straw, leaves, or wood chips
- Prevents heaving from freeze/thaw cycles
- Insulates roots from extreme cold
Tree Protection
- Wrap young tree trunks (prevents sunscald)
- Brush snow off branches (prevent breakage)
- Don’t use salt near trees
- Protect from deer/rabbit with fencing
- Prune dead branches only
Structure Maintenance
- Check raised beds for damage
- Repair broken trellises
- Clean out bird houses
- Secure cold frames/greenhouses
- Clear gutters near garden
Wildlife Support
- Keep bird feeders filled
- Provide fresh water (heated birdbath)
- Leave seed heads for birds
- Create brush piles for shelter
- Don’t disturb hibernating beneficials
Cold Frames
- Harvest cold-hardy greens
- Vent on sunny days (above 40°F)
- Cover with blankets on very cold nights
- Keep snow cleared from glass/plastic
- Water sparingly
Rose Care
- Mound soil 8-12″ around base
- Wrap climbing roses
- Use rose cones in harsh climates
- Don’t prune until spring
- Remove diseased leaves
Herb Garden
- Hardy herbs (thyme, sage) can stay outside with mulch
- Bring tender herbs (basil, rosemary) indoors
- Cut back perennial herbs after first frost
- Divide and pot up herbs for indoor use
Tool Care
- Clean and oil all metal tools
- Sharpen blades
- Sand wooden handles
- Service power equipment
- Store in dry location
- Drain fuel from gas equipment
⚠️ Winter Damage Prevention
Common Winter Problems:
- Sunscald: South/west facing bark gets warm during day, freezes at night. Wrap trunks.
- Frost Heaving: Freeze/thaw cycles push plants out of ground. Apply mulch after ground freezes.
- Winter Burn: Evergreens lose moisture faster than roots can replace. Water and apply anti-desiccant spray.
- Salt Damage: De-icing salt burns plants. Use sand or pet-safe alternatives near gardens.
- Heavy Snow: Gently brush snow off evergreen branches to prevent breakage.
🪴 Indoor Plant Care
Houseplant Winter Adjustments
💧 Watering Changes
- Reduce watering frequency – plants grow slower in winter
- Let soil dry more between waterings
- Water in morning when possible
- Use room temperature water
- Check soil before watering (finger test)
☀️ Light Requirements
- Move plants closer to windows (less intense winter sun)
- Clean windows for maximum light
- Rotate plants weekly for even growth
- Consider grow lights for 12-14 hours daily
- Watch for signs of insufficient light (leggy growth)
🌡️ Temperature & Humidity
- Keep plants away from heating vents
- Avoid cold drafts from windows/doors
- Maintain 60-75°F daytime, 55-65°F night
- Increase humidity: group plants, pebble trays, humidifier
- Mist tropical plants regularly
🍽️ Fertilizing
- Reduce or stop fertilizing (plants are resting)
- Feed at 1/4 strength monthly if actively growing
- Don’t fertilize dormant plants
- Resume normal feeding in late winter/early spring
🐛 Pest Watch
- Check for spider mites (dry air invites them)
- Look for scale, mealybugs, fungus gnats
- Isolate infested plants immediately
- Wipe leaves with damp cloth weekly
- Treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil
🌱 Starting Seeds Indoors
Late Winter (January-February): Time to start seeds!
- Start slow-growing plants 10-12 weeks before last frost (peppers, eggplant)
- Start tomatoes 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Use seed starting mix (not garden soil)
- Provide bottom heat (70-75°F) for germination
- Use grow lights 14-16 hours daily
- Keep soil moist but not soggy
- Fertilize with diluted (1/4 strength) after true leaves appear
📅 Monthly Winter Tasks
❄️ December
- Apply winter mulch after ground freezes
- Water evergreens before deep freeze
- Wrap young trees
- Check stored bulbs/tubers for rot
- Order seed catalogs
- Clean and sharpen tools
- Reflect on past season, take notes
❄️ January
- Browse seed catalogs
- Plan garden layout for next season
- Order seeds and supplies
- Check stored produce (potatoes, squash)
- Start slow-growing seeds indoors (late Jan)
- Maintain indoor plants
- Check outdoor plants after storms
❄️ February
- Start tomatoes and peppers indoors
- Prune fruit trees (late Feb)
- Check for early spring bulbs emerging
- Order bare-root plants
- Service lawn mower and equipment
- Plan crop rotation
- Begin hardening off early seedlings
📝 Planning for Spring
📚 Garden Journal
Review last season and plan improvements:
- What grew well?
- What failed and why?
- Pest/disease problems?
- Harvest amounts
- Favorite varieties
🗺️ Garden Layout
Design next year’s garden:
- Sketch garden beds
- Plan crop rotation
- Calculate planting dates
- List companion plantings
- Note succession crops
🛒 Seed Orders
Order early for best selection:
- Order by mid-January
- Choose disease-resistant varieties
- Try 2-3 new varieties
- Buy from reputable sources
- Check seed viability dates
✅ Winter Garden Checklist
Early Winter Tasks
Mid Winter Tasks
Late Winter Tasks
💡 Winter Gardening Tips
❄️ Embrace Dormancy
Plants NEED winter rest. Don’t force growth. This dormant period is essential for spring vigor.
📖 Education Time
Read gardening books, take online courses, watch videos. Improve your knowledge for next season.
🌱 Indoor Gardening
Start herbs, microgreens, or sprouts indoors. Fresh greens all winter!
🎄 Recycle Christmas Tree
Use evergreen branches as mulch for perennials or erosion control on slopes.
🦌 Wildlife Watching
Enjoy birds and wildlife visiting your winter garden. Note which plants they prefer for next year.
🧘 Rest & Reflect
You need dormancy too! Rest, plan, and build excitement for spring planting.