Winter Gardening: Cold Weather Gardening Tips

Who's ready to learn and grow? Spring is coming up quickly, but before you start your spring cleaning, why not start growing some greens? Winter gardening during the cold season is not only possible, but it’s fun! You can plant a variety of things in the cooler months which will continue to grow through the Spring and yield delicious produce year-round.

• Start with a checklist focusing on your temperature, soil, moisture, and animals/insects. Plants can only tolerate certain ranges of temperature so it's important to find out what will thrive and jive in your garden.
• Determine where you want your garden, and remove any weeds, debris, and those pesky pests left over from winter. Once your plot is exposed, add a layer of compost, leaves, and manure to create a great foundation for healthy soil.
• It might seem silly, but a poor drainage system for your garden could prevent your plants’ growth. We recommend reading up on your local weather and its effect on your soil, as well as designing a water draining landscape.
• Believe it or not, your garden brings all the pests to the yard, increasing the likelihood of them entering  your home. Try picking plants that don’t attract local critters or consult a TruGreen specialist for help with lawn pest control.

It’s okay to give your seeds a sheltered start until things warm up. Sowing indoors gives you access to a range of seed options as well as saving you money. So, what do you grow?

• You won’t tear up planting onions indoors.
• Rosemary can be grown year round and survives the iciest of temperatures.
• Don’t underestimate parsley -- you could say “the cold doesn’t bother them anyway.”
• Basil is one of the most popular herbs in the world and the easiest to grow in any climate.
• Mint is a strong herb that needs to be planted on its own, otherwise it’ll overpower other plants.
• Finally, this herb is so perfect for the cold, its name is winter savory.

Tip: Allow 6 weeks prior to the last frost to start sowing your seeds indoors.

Get ready to spice up your life with the four easiest winter vegetables to plant.  

• If you are looking for sharp & spicy flavor to add to your dishes, radishes are the veggie to your heart. They grow fast, you pick them, plant & harvest, again!.
• The perfect addition to your pasta and soup is rainbow chard. It grows quickly, can be cut when you need it, and produces all season long.
• For our busy bees, we recommend sweet pea snaps. They take a little more effort to grow but are a healthy go-to snack.
• Finally, thriving the most in cooler conditions, is arugula. You’ll have to cut back the flowers but the fresh green is worth the wait.

Tip: If you don’t know where to start, you can use the National Gardening Association’s hardiness zone finder to enter your ZIP code and find out what varieties of winter plants will likely thrive based on your climate zone. You can also consult with your TruGreen® PhD-certified specialist or your local nursery for planting ideas.

Can’t you just smell the roses? While you focus your attention on your making your yard a lush paradise, don’t forget about the beautiful flowers you will be able to plant come spring. First, make sure your soil is at the optimum temperature, 60 to 85 degrees, for planting flowers. Next, check your local nurseries’ list of plants that are native to your area that you are able to plant - we recommend planting perennials like bear’s breeches, hostas, and red hot pokers because they are easy to plant, require less maintenance, and you won’t need to replant next season.

Tip: Make sure to plant your flowers in a zigzag instead of a straight line, to allow your beautiful buds sunlight & water, letting them grow without competing for attention.

Be your own HGTV dream...even if you’re a beginner, now is the perfect time to start your garden. We challenge you to #LiveLifeOutside for the new year, no matter the season!