Preparing Your Garden for the Winter Freeze

Clean Up Dead Plants
Before the freeze, removing dead plants from your garden is essential. This helps prevent the spread of disease and eliminates hiding spots for pests that could harm your plants next spring. Pull out dead annuals and cut back spent perennials.

Harvest Remaining Fruits and Vegetables
Before the first freeze hits, make sure to harvest any remaining vegetables, fruits, or herbs still growing in your garden. Crops like tomatoes, peppers, and squash will not survive the cold, so picking them now will prevent waste. Even root vegetables like carrots and potatoes should be harvested to avoid damage from freezing soil.

Mow Your Lawn
Before the freeze, give your lawn one last mowing, leaving the grass slightly taller to help insulate the soil. Rake away fallen leaves to prevent them from smothering the grass underneath. After the frost hits, avoid walking on frozen grass, as it can easily be damaged.

Mulch Your Garden Beds
Adding a layer of mulch before the first frost is like giving your garden a warm, protective blanket. It helps insulate your soil and protect plant roots from harsh temperature changes. Spread a thick layer, around two to four inches of mulch, over your garden beds to lock in moisture and keep your soil temperature consistent. Organic mulches like straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves work best and will decompose over time, enriching your soil.

Water Thoroughly
It seems counterintuitive, but watering your garden before a freeze can help protect your plants. Hydrated plants are less vulnerable to freezing damage because water helps maintain soil temperature. Give your garden a good soak a day or two before the freeze is expected, especially if the weather has been dry.

Store Garden Tools and Equipment
Remember to clean and store your gardening tools for winter. Drain and store hoses, turn off water sources and move outdoor furniture, pots, and planters into a shed or garage to protect them from freezing temperatures. This will prevent cracks or damage from ice expansion.

Cover Vulnerable Plants
Young plants may not survive a hard winter freeze. Consider covering them with fabric, frost cloths, or even old sheets. This helps trap ground heat and shield plants from the worst of the cold. Just be sure to remove the covers during the day to prevent moisture buildup, which could lead to rot.

Protect Trees and Shrubs
Wrap the base of young trees or shrubs with burlap or tree wrap to prevent frost, wind, and ice damage. Start at the bottom and wrap upwards, overlapping the layers slightly. This protects their bark from cracking and splitting due to temperature fluctuations. Prune any damaged branches to avoid breakage during heavy snow or ice accumulation.