How to Enjoy Your Back Yard in Winter
October 10, 2023
As you may already know, winter isn’t the peak gardening season. It’s the spring and summer months where you’d like to spend most of your time, knelt down in the mud outside and getting your hands dirty. If you have a green thumb, you’ll already know when the best times of the year are to plant your favorite flowers and plants. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors through the winter months.
There are plenty of ways that you can enjoy your garden even during the coldest months of the year, and it doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. The summer months may be perfect for Queen Palm care, but the winter months give you a chance to get your other flowers and trees ready. Not only can you still grow some things and work towards getting your garden ready for spring and the planting of your trees, you’ll still be able to relax and enjoy what you’ve created during the other seasons in the year. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways that you can enjoy your backyard even through the winter.
- Choose frost-hardy vegetables to grow. Winter is one of the best times that you can grow frost resistant vegetables. Most people have planted them in the autumn so that they could be established before it gets too cold to dig down, and if you haven’t done this then there’s always next year. You can plant your green peas, lettuce, brassicas and Swiss Chard in the autumn so that you can extend your growing season and your harvesting into the winter. You don’t have to plant them too far apart either because gripping them close together allows you to cover them easily when the weather is at its coldest these may be frost hardy vegetables but they still need to be covered
- Improve soil health. It may be winter, but it’s the perfect time right now to improve the health of your soil in your garden because you can grow cold-hardy cover crops so that it can be improved during the late autumn. The best time is now to plant your winter wheat, Crimson Clover and radish in your in-ground beds. These won’t be in production for winter, but they will be right there ready for you. They are so lovely to look at and all of your weeds will be kept to a minimum. Come the springtime you can cut and work them into the soil and enjoy a couple of fresh radishes.
- Get bulbs ready to bloom. Winter is actually one of the best times of the year to plant bulbs that require a cold stratification. You can plant bulbs anytime between the autumn and the spring as long as the ground hasn’t completely frozen or frosted over. If you do live somewhere extremely cold that is susceptible to heavy snows, you need to get these into the ground as early as possible so that the ground isn’t frozen for the season. If you are lucky enough to live in a warm area, these can be planted throughout the winter season.
- Choose your fruit trees to plant. The best time to plant any fruit trees is in the winter because these are when trees are dormant. It doesn’t matter whether you have the space in the garden for a complete orchard of apple trees, or you just have enough space for one or two fruit trees. Winter is the best time to get them into the ground.You might need to buy your trees in pairs because some trees out there need to be planted in pairs to be able to produce any fruit. This is due to pollination.
- Bring out the Secateurs. You need your plants that you currently have in your garden to be pruned back, and the winter is a good time to do this. If you already have rose bushes and fruit trees or any other plant that really benefits from pruning, it’s now time to do that. The reason that you should do it through the winter is because these are when they are dormant, so they haven’t started to grow new buds or new wood. This is what happens in the early spring, so pruning now will give them the space to be able to thrive.
- Upgrade your garden paths. During the winter, you can get your garden paths in the right shape for the next growing season. Some people like to lay down fresh gravel or fresh wood chips, and others just like to make sure that they’re current walkways are pressure washed and brushed down and clean. You may not be spending as much time in your garden through the winter months, but that doesn’t mean it can’t look beautiful.
- Feed the birds. A great way to enjoy your garden in the winter is to feed the birds that come out there. Not all birds go into a hibernation state, which means that you’re going to have a few birds that stick around for the cold season. Of course, they’re not as many natural food sources for birds or stocked bird feeders, but that doesn’t mean you can’t change that yourself. Keep bird feeders and a heated bird bath full all winter and make sure that you bring out some roosting boxes for the birds that want to keep warm. You’ll be able to watch them do their thing from your window.
- Enjoy your harvest. In the autumn months, most people like to harvest their vegetables and fruits that they grew throughout the year. You can make some long time favorite casseroles and stews and try out some new recipes with the produce that you froze, dehydrated, canned, cured or refrigerated. If you’re lucky enough to get a few good days, go out to your garden to enjoy an outdoor meal, especially during bonfire season.
- Bring out the fire pit. Whether you have one in storage or not, or you have one in your local hardware stores, it’s time to bring out the fire pit, clean it down, and get it ready for the winter. Having an outdoor heater or a fire pit on your deck or patio in the garden is comfortable for you and the whole family. This means that you can spend quality time outside enjoying the crackle of the fire and roasting a few marshmallows. It also gives you an excuse to sit outside comfortably warm because your garden is your pride and joy and you want to enjoy it all year.
- Winter Relaxation Al Fresco. Even in the chill of winter, your garden can still be a sanctuary for relaxation. Consider setting up a cozy nook with a sturdy sun lounger draped in warm blankets and plush cushions. Positioned to catch the midday sun, this spot becomes an inviting retreat where you can enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and immerse yourself in a good book. This simple setup maximizes your enjoyment of the outdoor space during colder months and serves as a gentle reminder of the warmer days that once graced your garden. By embracing these moments, you can appreciate the quiet beauty of winter in your backyard.
- Create an indoor garden. If you don’t want to go out to your backyard because it’s covered in snow and frost, you can always cultivate an indoor herb garden instead. If your outdoor herbs are still going strong, you can make sure to propagate new plants from cuttings and grow them indoors in the warmth. You’ll be able to have access to fresh herbs throughout the winter months, which will help to elevate your cooking.as you know hearty stews and casseroles are the done thing during the winter and you’ll be able to enjoy them with an indoor herb garden ready to go.
- Start working on growing new house plants. If you want to keep growing things even through the winter, you can grow house plants. You don’t need to get anything that’s too high maintenance, and if you want to increase your odds of success, choose something that’s definitely low maintenance.The days are shorter during the winter, so make sure that you choose indoor plants that are able to thrive in darkness rather than high sunshine. This is so that they don’t need to rely on bright sunshine to grow!
- Start planning the spring. When your garden feels like it’s on pause, you can start making plans for spring and summer. Think about what plants you worked last year and start adding them to your list for this year. And then consider how you plan to get your garden ready for summer, such as cleaning your garden furniture, getting your tools cleaned down, and making sure that your decking is clean too.
- Get your seeds bought for next season. Seed vendors will always sell their new spring seeds in the winter, so you don’t actually have to wait until the last minute next year to place your order with them. As soon as you decide on what you’d like to grow, make sure that you have your orders put in and ready.If you place your order as early as possible, you’ll be able to secure what you need while the selection is still good.
Just because it’s the winter months doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your garden just as much as you did during the summer. It’s right now that you get a chance to do all of your planning and give yourself a small break from going in hard in the spring.
