Batten Down The Hatches

Photo via Pxhere

Change is on the horizon.  With winter winds blowing into the region, most of our fall gardening tasks are just about complete.  However, here are a few things to consider when battening down the hatches for winter.

First of all is packing away anything that is susceptible to winter's wrath.  Make sure you empty garden hoses before packing them away.  Water expands when it freezes and can cause hoses to burst.  With the winds picking up and no leaves on trees to act as a barrier, you might want to store garden furniture that could be moved by wintery gusts.  With the days getting shorter, solar powered lights will be able to store less energy.  Also, with the cold temperatures, batteries become impacted as the chemical reactions that power them slow down.  It's best to store your solar lights during the winter with the batteries removed.

Next, are your gardening tools.  With the ground frozen as hard as a rock during the forthcoming bleak winter months, you won't be needing the shovel (except for snow).  Now is the time to clean and pack away tools for winter.  It's also a good time to sharpen your garden tools and give them a coat of oil so they don't rust.

Finally, it is the perfect time to start planning for next year.  Take photo and notes.  What worked and what didn't work in your landscape this year?  Now is the time to starting dreaming big and planning for sunnier days ahead.