The Gardener's Corner
Preparing a winter garden
By Judith Rogers

Winter for a garden is just another season that it passes through; it is still alive with the microbial activity of healthy soil that has had compost, manure and leaves added in the fall and many animals and birds stay busy foraging for seeds and other forms of food. The roots of plants beneath the surface may be dormant but think of the winter interest above that takes on a different perspective covered with snow at this time of year.

Before a hard frost, remove tender calla lily, dahlia, gladiola and canna bulbs to store in a box of sand, peat moss or vermiculite in a cool, dry place. Try wintering over annual geraniums by taking cuttings or forcing those in pots to go dormant for the winter in your basement.

Wash the season's used pots with hot, soapy water and rinse in a mild bleach solution to sanitize them. Perennials can be left in containers over winter, but should be moved to an unheated garage or shed. Those that are too big to move can be tipped over on their side to prevent them from filling with rain or snow and then freezing and thawing which can kill the plants inside.

Whether the garden is cleaned up in spring or fall depends on your lifestyle and when you have the time to do this; fall has its advantage as spring is a busy time with other garden chores.

If tidying up and cutting back plants now, consider the appearance of the winter garden and leave some interest with tall stems of coneflowers, grasses and sedums; the wildlife will be thankful that you did. Birds will harvest seedheads that are left standing and ladybugs and other insects love to nestle in to hollow plant stems or under debris in the garden to hibernate.

Chop up the tree leaves that have fallen and use them for mulch on beds, around trees, shrubs and perennials like peonies that benefit from extra insulation during long cold spells. Evergreen boughs offer this protection as well so cut some branches from the holiday tree when it is finished and lay these over top of plants.

Keep watering trees and shrubs, especially the evergreens that will transpire and lose moisture through the needles all winter.

Clean and sharpen tools before putting them away and use paint thinner to remove the residue from sap and other sticky substances.

Start a garden journal if you haven't already, and best of all, enjoy the winter garden's sweep of tranquility.