How Winter Affects Your Garden
Each season has a general distinct ecology. As with most things in life, there is going to be unexpected patterns. Like last years winter and smoke/wildfires that fall out of the normal temperature ranges, moisture, environmental conditions, and wind flows.
Winter is the season where more of the energy/juices in plants has moved down to the roots, and into places less prone to freezing. This applies to both deciduous and evergreen plants. It doesn't seem so much with evergreens because they stay green all year round, and if you look closely (especially at the conifers) you will see more sap running high, and dripping in the summer when it's hot.
This is a main reason why planting and transplanting trees and shrubs is ideally done in the fall, and winter when applicable to your climate. It supports the root energy establishment where you want it, in the roots. Along with the wetter weather. Consistent moisture is required to encourage ideal rooting. Plant roots move as far as the available water they can reach for in the ground.
Another project that aligns with winter weather is major pruning of trees and shrubs. With the sap/juices less concentrated in the branches/leaves and down in the roots, full restructures and major limbs cut backs are less stressful than in the summer.
Here is a list of the projects you can be doing through the winter season, aside from when there is a blanket of snow covering your garden.
-- Planting and Transplanting Trees and Shrubs: plan this around long stretches of 30+ degree above freezing low's. Avoid doing this when the lows dip below 30, and are predicted this way for longer stretches.
-- Pruning Trees and Shrubs: especially full restructures and large limb cut backs.
-- Leaf Cleanup: now that all the deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, this is a great time for that thorough cleanup. You can also pile the leaves around the roots of any plants you want to protect against freezing.
-- Garden Planning: this is the slowest season energetically, making it a great time to grab a cup of coffee (or your warm drink of choice) and look at what you want to grow and work on in your garden this coming year. This slower season allows you to see the bare bones of your deciduous plants and land in dormancy. It is also a great time to do research from your trusted plant people, and gardeners who can give you the specific requirements for the context specific thrival of the plants you want to grow, or want to improve you already have growing in your garden.
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