Taking care of your garden during the wintertime
In order to prepare properly for the winter your garden needs some
covering. Initially, most of your garden will be killed by the change in
climate. You want to begin by removing the black stems, fruit, flowers, and
vegetables that are still growing. This is because they can become infected
with disease and insect infestations that lie dormant through the winter.
Better to remove them safely now, so that your next batch can thrive. Many
assume that during the winter everything in your garden comes to an end.
However, there is still much going on invisible to the naked eye under the
soil. Roots continue to grow, still absorbing nutrients from above the ground.
By this time the mulch you likely spread in the summer has completely dissolved
and is now being digested by worms, and other organisms under the top soil. During
this time spreading a new layer of mulch that is even thicker can be very
beneficial to your garden. The cover provided by mulch will protect your
remaining plants, and roots underground. Many assume that this method is used
to keep the soil warmer, this is false. This process benefits your garden
because it keeps a more consistent temperature for the plants to live in.