Winter might have you dreaming of snowflakes and hot cocoa, but for gardeners, December is the perfect time to plan for the growing season ahead. While most people are focused on holiday shopping and end-of-year celebrations, savvy green thumbs are already clicking “add to cart” on seed packets that will set them up for a…
cold weather
Protecting Garden Tools from Rust and Freeze Is More Important Than You Think
You’ve just spent a glorious afternoon wrestling your landscape into something resembling order. Your shears snipped with precision, your spade turned earth with satisfying hefts, and your hoe defeated an entire battalion of weeds. You wipe your brow, lean on your trusty tools, and call it a day. But here’s the silent drama unfolding: if…
Your Garden Shed Might Be the Most Important Structure This Winter
While everyone is busy battening down the hatches on the main house, a quiet hero waits at the bottom of the garden. That’s right, we’re talking about your garden shed. Often relegated to storing a rusty trowel and half-empty paint cans, this unassuming outpost is poised for a serious promotion. This winter, as the days…
14 Winter Soil Preparation Tips That Boost Spring Growth
Winter can feel like a dead season for gardeners, with frost covering the ground and the garden looking like it’s taking a long nap. But beneath that cold, dormant surface, soil is quietly waiting for spring, and the work you do now can transform next season’s garden into a lush, vibrant paradise. Preparing your soil…
How to Use Berry-Bearing Shrubs for Winter Garden Drama
While the rest of your garden has settled into its muted winter slumber, a vibrant, living jewelry box is waiting to be opened. Imagine pops of scarlet, clusters of deepest blue, and branches dripping with pearlescent white, all standing in stunning defiance against frosted mornings and gray skies. This isn’t a fantasy; it’s the spectacular…
13 Ways to Use Evergreens, Berries & Bark for Winter Garden Interest
Winter arrives with its chill, stripping most gardens down to bare bones and leaving homeowners staring out the window wondering where all the color went. But here’s the secret seasoned gardeners know: winter landscapes don’t have to be dull, gray, or lifeless. With the right mix of evergreens, berries, and bark, your garden can light…
Do Evergreen Trees Belong in a Winter Colour Strategy?
Winter’s palette is often described as monochrome—a world of stark whites, somber grays, and muted browns. But look closer. Against that quiet canvas, a stand of pine, spruce, or fir doesn’t just sit there; it sings. It’s a deep, resonant note of life when everything else seems to be holding its breath. If your garden…
What Every Gardener Should Know About Frost Protection
The air has a certain bite to it, a crispness that whispers of changing seasons. You tuck in your prized tomatoes and vibrant basil, hoping for just a few more weeks of harvest. Then morning arrives, and your garden is transformed into a silent, sparkling tableau of ice crystals. It’s equal parts beautiful and heartbreaking….
The Best Way to Prune Fruit Trees Before the Cold Sets In
The air is getting crisp, the leaves are putting on their final fiery show, and you’re cozied up with a mug of cider. But outside, your fruit trees are sending you a silent SOS. They’re not ready for their long winter nap, not until you’ve played your part as backyard surgeon and strategic coach. Fall…
How to Keep Your Garden Alive While You’re Enjoying the Holidays
Vacations, holiday feasts, and long-awaited adventures are the perfect recipe for relaxation—but they can be disastrous for your garden if you leave it unattended. One minute, your flowers are thriving, and the next, they’re sending you sad, droopy signals from the backyard. Don’t let your well-tended paradise turn into a brown, wilted mess while you’re…