Top 6 tips for winterizing your garden
Posted by Kristee Ornburn
It’s time to start planning for a great garden next year! Taking a few steps to winterize your garden in the fall will not only put you on the road to a good crop next year, but also make your whole gardening process easier.
1. Draw a diagram - the first step I take is to draw out a diagram of where I planted everything this year. For the best results, vegetables need to be planted in different areas of the garden from one year to the next. Vegetables both take specific nutrients from the soil and at the same time add specific nutrients back into the soil. By rotating where you plant your vegetables, you can help to keep the nutrients rich in your soil. I never trust my memory to recall exactly where I planted each item, so I have a notebook that I write it down in every year.
2. Check equipment - as you pull your plants from the garden (which was kind of sad since my tomatoes were still blooming, but of course, there is not enough growing season left for them), take time to check your equipment. I reuse my tomato cages year after year but eventually they cannot be used any more. I make a note of what I will need to replace next year and I pick those up early in the season. Otherwise, it always seems like 
when you discover you need one more tomato cage for your plants, everyone is sold out!
3. Till your garden well in the fall – till it as much as you would if you were planting. It opens up the soil for rain to soak in and it also dislodges any remaining weeds or plant growth. Tilling well in the fall will make your spring tilling much easier and faster, which is nice because by then you are anxious to get planting!
4. Fertilize - I like to fertilize in the fall too. If I have any leftover fertilizer, I will just use that. Otherwise, I am fond of the tried and true Triple 12 (12-12-12), it’s just a good all purpose fertilizer. I just spread it and let the fall rains and winter snow take it into the ground.
5. Test - I also put down garden lime in the fall because I know my soil needs it. Which brings me to my next tip – fall is a good time to get a soil test. You can go to your local Extension Office for a soil test. It’s inexpensive and a great way to find out just what nutrients your soil needs.
6. Mulch - finally, I do a little fertilizing nature’s way. Grass and leaves are a natural mulch that will help to fortify the soil. Instead of raking leaves, I mow with a mulcher to chop the leaves to help the soil. I will bag up some of those leaves and scatter on the garden. Don’t overdo it, you don’t want to smother the soil but a nice, light layer of chopped leaves is nature’s way of adding back some richness to your soil.
Then, just sit back and start planning your next year’s garden!
Comment below and tell us your favorite garden planning tip.
