Winter offers the ideal time for some outdoor maintenance and preparation in preparation for spring. From raking leaves and tidying sheds to tidying up garden tools and pruning roses, there’s plenty to do to make the most of your outdoor space.
Now is an excellent time to order flowers and bulbs for the upcoming growing season. Check your local nursery for blooming bulbs like lilies, gladioli, and ranunculi that can be purchased in winter for early arrival this year.
1. Create a Container Garden
After a long winter, your garden can look bare. But it’s easy to brighten up some pots or two with stunning blooms! Just be sure to place the container in direct sunlight and water it regularly.
Fill a large winter-safe pot about three-quarters full with potting soil (if using the same soil from your summer display, press it down slightly for added stability). Arrange three narrow white birch branches in the center as a focal point and fill in around them with other evergreen branches.
Plant thrillers that grow taller and draw the eye vertically – such as sweet potato vine, coleus, ‘Bossa Nova Orange’ begonia or Tropicanna canna. Then add ‘filler’ plants for height and foliage color such as red Abyssinian hardy banana, copper leaf plant or lily. Finishing off the look by adding decorative accents such as pinecones or lights.
2. Clean Up Your Front Porch
After a long winter, your front porch might need some freshening up to make you feel at home. Luckily, spring decor is easy to add and makes an impressive statement.
Even just a few potted plants can add life to your outdoor space! Plus, with the warmer weather coming soon, you’ll want to spend time outside enjoying time with family and friends!
Add some fun details to give your porch decor a new lease on life. For instance, fill up large planters with greenery like ivy or add an eye-catching springtime flower.
Take a few minutes to clean the screens on your porch. You can use a hose to rinse away grime, but also rub them down with a soft brush. For tough stains, try using baking soda in combination with water for effective removal.
3. Add a Little Color to Your Lawn
Winter can often leave your lawn looking brown and sparse, but there are several steps you can take to revive and nourish it for spring.
To achieve a lush lawn, proper nutrition is key. Nitrogen should be added to the soil in order to encourage top growth and help the grass produce more chlorophyll, which in turn allows it to absorb more sunlight for photosynthesis.
Nutrient deficiency can cause your grass to turn yellow or brown and may even appear diseased. Diagnosing the source is essential for quickly diagnosing and treating an issue.
If your lawn is looking a bit dull, try adding some fertilizer or a thin layer of compost. This will provide it with an instant boost of nutrients to get ready for the season ahead.
4. Make a Compost Area
Spring is an enchanting time of year, especially after spending the winter indoors. It’s also the perfect opportunity to start gardening again!
One of the best ways to revive your garden after winter is by creating a compost area. Compost is an invaluable soil amendment that will improve plant health and cut back on gardening expenses for the coming season.
Composting successfully requires feeding it the correct balance of green and brown ingredients. You can do this by collecting fallen leaves, straw, sawdust or shredded newspaper for use in your pile of compost.
A lid on your compost bin or heap can keep waste warm and encourage faster decomposition. Additionally, this helps prevent rain from chilling the compost too much, leading it to become mushy.
A tarp over your compost pile’s top can keep it dry and warm in harsh weather. Piling straw, hay bales or logs around will further insulate it from cold temperatures.
