As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, your plants are entering a crucial period of transition. Just like people adjust their routines for the colder months, plants also need a little extra care to survive and stay strong until spring. Preparing your garden and potted plants before winter not only protects them from frost damage but also ensures they will thrive when warm weather returns.
1. Pruning and Cleaning
Start with a seasonal clean-up. Remove dried leaves, spent flowers, and diseased branches. This helps plants conserve energy during dormancy and reduces the risk of fungal infections or pests overwintering.
Extra tip: Avoid heavy structural pruning now. Focus on dead or damaged growth only; save major pruning for early spring when plants are ready to push new shoots.
2. Bring Sensitive Plants Indoors
Tender species such as succulents, orchids, citrus, and tropical ornamentals do not tolerate frost. Move them indoors before nighttime temperatures drop too low. Choose bright, well-ventilated spots, ideally near south-facing windows, but keep plants away from radiators or heating vents.
Extra tip: Inspect plants for pests before bringing them inside. Rinse foliage with lukewarm water or wipe leaves to prevent insects from hitchhiking into your home.
3. Reduce Watering
Most plants slow their growth in winter and need less water. Overwatering is a common cold-season mistake and can cause root rot. Always check the soil first and water only as needed.
Extra tip: Use your finger to test moisture; if the top 2–3 cm feels dry, it’s time to water. Use room-temperature water to avoid shocking roots.
4. Enrich the Soil and Protect Roots
Winter is not the time for heavy fertilizing, but you can support plants by protecting the soil. Add a light layer of organic mulch, dried leaves, or compost to lock in moisture and buffer temperature swings around the roots.
Extra tip: For potted plants, cover the surface with moss, bark chips, or decorative stones. This helps insulation and also gives containers a clean, seasonal look.
5. Winterize Your Garden
Perennials and shrubs benefit from extra protection as frost arrives. Mound mulch or leaves around the base to insulate roots. In harsher climates, wrap delicate shrubs with garden fleece or burlap to shield them from cold wind and sudden freezes.
Extra tip: Elevate outdoor pots on wooden boards or insulating foam to prevent direct contact with frozen ground and reduce the risk of cracked containers.
6. Adjust the Light Indoors
Short winter days mean less natural light. Move houseplants closer to windows or consider supplemental grow lights to prevent weak, leggy growth.
Extra tip: Rotate pots every couple of weeks so all sides receive even light and plants grow symmetrically.
7. Don’t Forget Ventilation
Closed rooms can trap humidity and stale air around foliage. On mild days, brief ventilation helps discourage mold and keeps indoor plants healthier.
Extra tip: Open a window for a short period to refresh the air without dramatically lowering room temperature.
Winter preparation is about balance—protecting plants from stress while respecting their natural rest cycle. With a few mindful adjustments now, you’ll be rewarded in spring with healthy, resilient plants bursting with fresh growth.