Tucking the Beds (and the Tools) in for the Winter

Rhode Island is fortunate to have several local online information sources for gardeners, and as we lurch toward winter, I thought I'd check out how our gardening neighbors are winterizing their garden beds.

Blithewold's garden blog is a useful illustrated journal that describes in detail how they tucked their many gorgeous gardens to bed this fall. For instance, see the end of the winterization series, which is called The To Do(ne) List. I like how they document the changes in their garden. They have a long category list in the right sidebar, so if you're looking for a particular topic, you might find what you need quickly.

The URI Master Gardener homepage currently features the November Fall Garden Planner, a list of things to do to winterize your roses, perennials, evergreens, and lawns. The Planner includes tips for tool maintenance as well. It's not that long a list, and you'll feel great when you're done. Come spring, reap the rewards of a healthy, thriving landscape.

I've been cleaning up my own gardens and I've got the rain barrel half emptied ~ my, there's a lot of water in that thing! All summer, even in our long dry spells, there was enough water to sustain the tomatoes and flowers on that side of the house. It only takes a 1/4" of rain to fill the barrel, so it has filled up and overflowed more than once since summer. I cleaned up some pots with the water, poured water on the roses, some young shrubs, the perennials, and especially the evergreens. One of the Master Gardeners' winterizing to-dos is to give evergreens extra water because they tend to dry out during the winter.

It's important to empty the rain barrel I have because I'm told ice will not treat it kindly. The Great American Rain Barrel Company recommends draining the barrel, removing the spigot and drain plug, and storing it out of the weather. Some people advise more elaborate winterization.

Comments

[Sue Korte, The Providential Gardener]

Yes, Kris, it sure is a long fall. The maples and some other trees haven't let go all their leaves yet, so it's still a while until we can finish raking leaves. Your Blithewold blog has inspired me to get out and winterize my own yard. There are still things to do outside, including getting the rain barrel indoors. I'll write about my ongoing adventures with the rain barrel soon ~ perfecting my barrel-emptying techniques. Given the quote in another comment to this post, and given that it's not icy winter yet, I've decided to let the rain barrel accumulate some more water for the shrubs to give them an extra boost for the winter.

[Kris at Blithewold]

Thanks for the link, Sue! It's been a long fall hasn't it? And there's still more to do - I'll keep keeping you posted!

[Sue Korte, The Providential Gardener]

I just found this in the New England Wild Flower Society's "Wild e-News" about New England's ONGOING DROUGHT:

"We've had cooler temperatures and a little rain, but that doesn't mean the 2007 New England drought is over, says Rolf Briggs, Society faculty member, Arborist, and Overseer. This summer's low rainfall totals have significant long-term health effects for trees and shrubs. Even plants in irrigated settings may be affected, and new plantings and mature specimens are especially at risk. Rolf recommends supplemental watering through November (especially if there is no heavy snowfall), soil testing, and a light mulching of bare soil areas."

Now I know what to do with the rest of the water in my rain barrel!

Sue

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