Why Let Snow Keep You From Garden Work?

You don’t have to give up on your gardening just because temperatures drop. There are plenty of things you can still do—and grow—once Old Man Winter has settled in for the season. Here’s how you can keep making the prepare your garden for winter.

Plant Some Winter Veggies

Winter may mean plummeting temperatures and snowy weather, depending on where you live. That’s a far cry from the heat and humidity of summer, which allows many homeowners to grow flowers, fruits, and veggies in their home gardens. But the end of warmer weather doesn’t mean you have to tuck your garden in until spring; there are plenty of winter-hardy vegetables you can grow, sometimes even into the first frost, like:

• Winter lettuce

• Broccoli

• Ornamental kale

• Carrots

• Root crops (like radishes and turnips)

Create a Winter Garden

Yes, plenty of things will still flourish in the early winter, but there are also ways to set up a winter garden with more evergreen plants that will keep through even the chilliest of winter nights. Consider creating a garden area that’s especially hardy against cold weather and provides coverage and food for animals who may otherwise struggle through the season. 

• Evergreen trees

• Juniper shrubs

• Arborvitaes

• Holly bush

Prep for Spring

If the cold weather has you down and growing winter veggies isn’t on your mind, start planning for the spring. You can still tend to your beds, add layers of mulch, and even clean out debris from the last growing season well after the first frost has set in. You can even plant some warm-weather bulbs if the ground hasn’t hardened yet. 

Bring Pollinators to Your Yard

Photo: Deb Perry / Moment / Getty Images

Just because seasonal blooms and most bees and butterflies have gone doesn’t mean you can’t still make your yard the place for perennial pollinators like birds. Just because they don’t have as much work to do in the winter doesn't mean they wouldn’t enjoy some birdseed or freshwater sources. Plus, they’ll be easier to see (and enjoy) with fewer leaves and distractions to camouflage them. Meaning you can get a great view of them enjoying your garden (even from the comfort and warmth of inside your home). 

Dress for Success

If you’re going to brave the cold to work out in the garden, make sure you dress for the occasion. Wear extra thick gloves and make sure you’re wearing insulating layers. If the temperatures are particularly low, you’ll want to take frequent breaks to get inside and warm back up. A hot cup of coffee or tea can go a long way to helping you fight that chill long enough to get in some quality dirt therapy.