Fall and winter are a time to hibernate, but they’re also a time to think about how you want to build your garden in the new year. As you prepare for the winter and enjoy the winter season, consider your future garden design. Making plans during this season will help you set up strategies for your garden that will see you through the coming gardening season.

Enjoy the Last Flowers 

As the flowers begin to fade, enjoy them and observe how they add to your garden. Note the ways that your garden looks beautiful at this time of the year and the ways that you could change it next year to make it look even better. In all of the fuss over spring blossoms, it’s easy to forget that fall has its own beauty and that you need to plan ahead if you want beautiful fall foliage and flowers. 

Winterize Your Outdoor Living Spaces 

If you have outdoor furniture, an outdoor kitchen, or a play space for the kids, now is the time to tuck all of this away in preparation for the winter. Consider the design of your winter garden space. Where will you need to park and walk in the winter time? Make sure that those areas are clear of furniture and other impediments and that they’re easy to walk along and shovel in the winter.

Add Perennials and Grasses to Your Garden

Before it gets too cold, wet, and frozen, add those perennials that you’ve been planning to add to your garden all summer. This is the right time to plant since the perennials will establish roots during the cool, damp fall and come back in the spring ready to establish themselves in your garden for good. If you’ve been thinking about replenishing your grass, “The soil should be tested to determine pH and nutrient availability,” according to House Beautiful. Correct any pH problems, then aerate and reseed the lawn.  

Create New Flower Beds 

If you want to build garden soil, fall and winter are the time to do this. By installing a new flower bed in the fall and adding mulch to the bed, you’ll create a thriving soil ecosystem just in time for spring. Put your summer design strategies into play and add leaves, manure, and other layers to your garden. If you don’t want to dig up the soil, that’s fine as well: you can make a lasagna garden. According to The Spruce, “To make a lasagna garden, organic matter is added in layers…The layers break down over time, and you are left with a nutrient-rich, fluffy soil.” 

Add New Bulbs 

If you want to add new color to your spring garden, fall is the time to design a glorious spring bulb garden. Plant your bulbs in the fall for a springtime bounty. Consider what will be blooming in each two week period to make sure that you have color throughout the coming spring.

Plan for the New Year 

As your garden is quiet in the winter, plan for the new year of garden activity. Take notes on what you’ve learned in the garden this year, what you’ve wanted to do, and how you envision your garden taking shape in the new year. For instance, if you’re planning to make a rain garden in the spring, plan when this should occur, and consider purchasing the materials during the slow season so that you’ll have everything ready when spring comes.

At Harry Helmet, we want to help you shape your home and garden so that they work the way that you want them to work. Whether you’re seeking roofing solutions, a gutter cover, or an awning, you can contact us. Schedule a free estimate today.

Written by Del Thebaud