The Importance of Winter Flower Bed Cleanup

Ah, winter… the chill in the air, the lingering coughs, the weather delays. Many of us are ready for it to be over. But while winter is still here, we all have to deal with the winter responsibilities for our Augusta landscaping. While the top of mind in that list of responsibilities may be winterization and snow removal, only those who've already had a landscaping rodeo or two think about flowers. Surprisingly, flower bed cleanups are just as vital to your flowers in winter as in the spring when most of us are thinking more about the blooms. Avid gardeners may know why, but for the rest of us who don't, flower bed maintenance is essential in winter.

What Does Winter Flower Bed Cleanup Involve?

Winter flower bed cleanups aren't too different than cleanups the rest of the year. They involve mainly the same tasks. However, the focus is slightly different because you likely don't have as much active growth. In winter, your beds don't have as much to show, so bed cleanup is less about creating a pleasing aesthetic in the present and more about keeping what you have alive for a beautiful spring future.

Stop Freezing

One of the goals for winter bed cleanup is keeping your plants alive; part of that is preventing freezing. The plants that live through the winter are, by nature, hardier, but that doesn't mean they don't need a little assistance.

Removing Debris

No matter the time of year, part of flower bed cleanup and landscaping cleanup is removing plant debris. Since plants are constantly growing, they're always shedding. Though the growth is slower or dormant in winter, the shedding continues. While plants aren't shedding petals from new growth, pieces of plants continue to break off r die, sometimes because of the cold. As a result, plant debris can be detrimental to your landscape. In the warmer months, too much debris can block water and nutrients from reaching your plants. During the winter, the primary worry is that moisture will get trapped beneath the debris. That can then freeze and kill the plant.

Perennial Cutbacks

Perennials are the plants that come back every season. Unlike annuals, you don't need to replant them every year, at least not if you take good care of them. Over the winter, your perennials that don't bloom during cold weather often need to be cut back. Cutting back perennials means cutting off most of the plant, leaving about an inch above the ground. Of course, not all perennials are cut back, so don't make assumptions, and always talk to your friendly landscaper! Cutbacks serve two functions. First, they allow the plant to focus its energy on its core rather than its extremities. Secondly, the amount left helps protect your plant's roots from freezing.

Prevent Mold

Another reason for winter flower bed cleanups is to prevent mold. This issue may come as a surprise to those who think of mold as a warm weather problem. Unfortunately, that is not true of all mold. Another reason we collect debris is that the trapped moisture can create mold in addition to the ice we already discussed.

Aesthetic

While aesthetic value may not be the primary reason for winter bed cleanups, that doesn't mean it doesn't factor in at all. For example, you may have a few winter-blooming perennials or colorful grasses you want to continue showing off. Or perhaps even, if nothing is blooming, you don't want your property to look like a Tim Burton movie!

Faster Spring Start-Up

The final reason to keep up with your garden beds through the winter, even if nothing is blooming, is so that you'll have a more excellent spring. As long as we keep cleaning up your bed during the cold weather, once we get to the warmer weather, you'll be able to have beautiful flowers! The more you let junk accumulate in your garden, including dead plants and debris, the more work you'll have in the spring. Some of that can cause delay, and some cause actual damage.

Winter Is Still Here, But Let's Get Ready for Spring

If you thought winter was your chance to forget about your landscape, Divine is sorry to have to be the one to disillusion you. But on the bright side, knowledge is power, and knowing what you can do to improve your gardens means your spring can be all the more beautiful. Let us help you to make your property divine!