With winter not far off, it’s time to start thinking about cleaning up the yard and garden and getting it all ready for a long winter's nap. For those of us with kids, this is a great opportunity to spend time together, teach some skills and responsibility, and have fun together as a family.
Here are some ideas for activities you and your children can do to prepare your yard and garden for winter.
Around the Yard
Clean and store or cover patio furniture, lawn chairs and the like.
Small furniture should be stored somewhere it won’t blow away. If it’s too big to be moved indoors or into a garage or shed, use a tarp or waterproof cover to protect it over the winter.
Clean and store outdoor toys, bikes, etc.
Active kids may have left all manner of outdoor toys close to where they are used. Kids can pick them up and put them away somewhere that they won’t get damaged, or wind up lost.
Sweep off porches, decks, patios, etc.
Keeping these areas clean will help preserve them and make clearing snow off of them easier.
Drain and store all hoses.
Garden hoses can get damaged if water freezes inside them. Drain as much water as you can, coil them up and hang them to dry before storing them somewhere out of the way for the season.
Turn off exterior water valves/spigots.
These can also be damaged if water freezes inside them, so it’s best to shut off the water supply indoors (adult supervision recommended) and then drain the exterior fixtures.
Rake excess leaves.
In general, it’s better to allow a layer of leaves to remain on your lawn over the winter. This will protect the grass and give small animals a place to shelter in the winter and early spring. But if you have excess leaves and need to rake, make piles for kids to play with, then move them to your compost pile.
Mow the lawn for the final time.
Consider if your lawn needs to be mowed one last time. It’s good to let the clippings and any leaves you have left stay where they fall, without being collected, to give the lawn a layer of protection from frost. Only adults and teens should operate lawnmowers, of course.
Check outdoor lights and replace bulbs.
Little ones can help test lights, while grown-ups replace bulbs as needed.
Swap summer garage tools for winter ones.
Lawn mowers, rakes, garden shears, watering cans, etc. should be put away in long-term storage. Snow shovels, snowblowers, salt, etc. should be made conveniently accessible. Clean all your lawn and garden tools before storing them for the winter.
In the Garden
Remove annuals from the garden.
Annual plants, like marigolds and tomatoes, will not return on their own next spring. Pulling them out now helps prevent pests and diseases from spreading through the soil.
Divide perennials.
If your tulips or other perennials are getting a little crowded, this is a great time to dig them up and space them out again.
Plant new bulbs.
This is also the time to plant any new bulbs you will want for next year. Your garlic crop will be much better if you plant it in the fall!
Bring in potted plants that can’t overwinter outdoors.
If you have any potted plants that won’t survive a freeze, move them indoors where you can care for them until it’s warm outside again. Moving temperature-sensitive plants to a greenhouse is another good option, if you have one.
Cover vulnerable plants, such as shrubs or small trees.
While these may be winter-hardy, they can also wind up on the menu for deer and other foraging animals, or simply get damaged by a deep freeze. Consider covering them with burlap or similar fabric.
Do a final round of weeding.
Better to pull these out now than let them spread their roots over the winter.
Add winter mulch or straw to garden beds (depending on what you’re growing).
Mulching your beds will help keep temperatures consistent, so your plants are less likely to “wake up” during a warm period and be damaged by a new frost. Straw is good for keeping rodents from digging up your vegetable garden and provides the same temperature-regulating benefits.
Water plants for the last time.
The last thing to do before bidding farewell to your garden for the season is to give it a nice, long drink. Your perennials will still need a bit of water, even when they aren’t growing, to keep the roots healthy. Never water when temperatures are near freezing, but you can give the garden a bit of a drink during warmer periods in winter as needed.
There’s plenty for you and your kids to do to get your yard and garden ready for the winter. Working together makes the work go quickly, and accomplishing things as a family strengthens those bonds. So get out there, have fun and enjoy the knowledge that your spring cleaning will be that much easier.
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