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ANDSCAPES
Winterizing Your Home Garden
Kentucky Landscaper Shares Tips for Getting Your Garden & Landscaping Ready for Winter
By Bill Henkel & Kirsten E. Silven Photography Courtesy of Bill Henkel
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s the weather turns cooler and the nights grow longer, it’s important to prepare your garden and landscaping for winter and protect and prepare it for the following spring season. From caring for equipment to nurturing the soil and heading off minor issues before they become major, here are four areas to consider that will help your garden and landscaping survive the short cold days and bitter nights that winter brings to Kentucky.
Annuals & Containers
Be sure to remove all annuals and compost them for next year’s garden, then clean and properly store all containers according to the manufacturer’s recommendations (each container will have different requirements).
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“Keep in mind that certain containers are designed to be winter resistant and can be planted all year round, while some cast stone containers are actually weatherproof and can be filled with seasonal plants and other materials for fall, Christmas and spring bulbs,” shared Bill Henkel of Landscape Workshop (formerly Henkel Denmark). Finally, if you are looking for ways to bring some cheer to long winter nights, consider installing a decorative metal or wooden trellis to adorn with twinkling lights. This easy move will create a functional yet elegant focal point and brighten dark exterior spaces.
Shrubs, Perennials & Beds
It’s also necessary to touch up and lightly prune all shrubs, as well as cut back any tall perennials that have died back and compost the clippings. In the garden beds, be sure to order and install spring bulbs—daffodils for naturalizing, tulips for containers and crocus anywhere. “Just be sure to order bulbs early in order to get the best selection and quality,” Henkel recommended. “And plant them before the soil gets cold and wet.” Finally, cut a new edge to all beds and remember, it’s okay to allow leaves to compost in the beds wherever they fall, but if you prefer a more managed look, you can opt to clean out all beds of leaves and other debris, then top dress them with 1-2 inches of high-quality compost. You can also top dress your beds with a blend of compost and pine bark mini nuggets at a 50:50 ratio mix. This will help the beds sleep safely with a clean, crisp look throughout the winter months, then awaken with a roar when spring rolls around.
12 • September/October 2021 • Kentucky Homes & Gardens
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