Cold weather stopping you from gardening? Let that not be a hindrance. The slush and untimely rain can wreak havoc on your plants and garden but you can work your way through the same. In fact, gardening can give you the much-needed mood boost, especially in times of the pandemic and the impending lockdown.. If you feel winters are the least productive weather when it comes to gardening, here are six things that you can do during this season.
Let The Rain Soak In The Mud
Before the onset of the winters, the weather in India is such that it undergoes immense heat before changing. If your soil has been dry for an extended period of time it can become water-repellent (hydrophobic), even after heavy rains. If you notice water pooling on the surface, a good soil wetting agent can come in handy or any seaweed additives for that matter. Remove excess layers of autumn or dry leaves that could be disrupting the seeping of water into the soil.
Lay Durable Tiles
Your garden is as good as the strength of the soil and the durability of the tiles. Garden floor tiles need to be extremely low maintenance but at the same time be really up in the game when it comes to its strength and longevity. The ceramic nature of these tiles makes them conducive even in hot temperatures and since it is less water-absorbent and prevents water leakage, it is the best choice to install in and around your garden area.
How about you try the all new paver tiles that look great in garden walkways and bring an aesthetic charm to your garden spaces. You can also know more about the all new range of paver tiles in 300x300mm and 400x400mm here.
Get Serious With Weed Control
With lushious gardens comes a lot of weeds. Ensure you do not let the weeds outgrow and outnumber your plants. If they mature and set seed before you happen to discard them, you can be in for an unpleasant experience getting rid of them. Weeding by hand can give an effective result. Be careful while removing roots, and use garden hoes or tillers for larger areas.
Create A Veggie Patch-Up
Winter is quite a pleasant time to prune your existing trees or to place new ones in the ground. It is also a very suitable weather to grow Brussel sprouts or cauliflowers, lettuce, etc. Take that time out of your cosy schedule to tidy up your vegetable garden. Enrich the soil with compost and start planning about what you’re going to plant next season. Check with your local nursery to see if they have any new vegetables you’d like to try growing.
Start Mulching
Mulching takes place essentially after you sow seed or post the seedling. Mulching for plants is quite advantageous as they provide the necessary soil moisture, improves fertility, and health of the soil. Some great-acting mulches for winter include bark chips, shredded bark, straw, evergreen boughs and other loose, coarse-textured organic materials. For many gardeners, mulch is as commonplace in their gardens and yards as are the very plants they grow.
Do Not Forget Cloche
In gardening, cloche is nothing but covering plants from cold temperatures. In places where the temperature dips below minus, this process is extremely important. The original form of a cloche is a bell-shaped glass cover that is placed over an individual plant. These days, modern cloches are usually made from plastic.
Prune Your Plants
If you start pruning your trees from now, they could be well prepped for the summers. It is because these trees in winters are without leaves, the form of the tree can be seen easily, so crossing wood, double leaders and a plethora of other problems can be picked up early. Rose and hydrangea pruning in winters is a must. Post that, add a seaweed-based additive to condition the soil and also make it resistant to pests and diseases.
Test and Till Your Soil
To keep your garden and plants in a healthy environment, it is extremely crucial to keep an optimal pH along with the temperatures. Therefore, it’s quite important to keep testing and tilling your soil to get better results. This will give you an idea as to what the soil is lacking and will help you plan and take steps accordingly.
While you do all of the above in winters, you can also take this time to plan or visualise something new for your garden. Pondering over a particular plant to add to your mix, this is the ideal time! Birds, bees, butterflies and other little creatures can do wonders for your little garden by helping pollinate vegetables and gobbling up pest insects. So, if there’s ever a right time to nurture new plants and vegetables, this is it. Do your research, plan your project and then get cracking.
