While we have the luxury of snuggling up on the couch by the fire in winter, our gardens however do not. Here are some winter gardening tips to help you get the most out of your winter garden, especially if you are having open homes and showing it off to potential buyers.
Winter Veggies
Before planting your winter veggies you need to make sure your soil is ready. Give it a good dig over and be sure to compost, as deep as your vegetable is going to be. If you want your carrots to grow nice and straight the soil needs to be clump free. It will need to be fertilised appropriately for what you are planning on planting.
While there is not always a lot of work in the vegetable garden over the cooler winter months, it’s a great time to prepare for the next crop. July is a great time to start sprouting new season seed potatoes, ready for planting late July or early August. There are a large variety of winter veggies that can be planted such as broccoli, garlic, kale, snow peas, silver beet and spinach. Some varieties are hardier than others so check with your local store before planting. Frost netting is also a good idea, even if it’s not something you use straight away, have it on hand for when you need it.
Trees & Fruit
If you have a tree you want to move, now is the time to do so. Make sure the spot you are re homing them too is no colder or frostier than the location it has just come from. If the spot is prone to being a little dryer, make sure you give it plenty of water to settle it in. Winter is perfect for planting fruit trees. Grapefruits, mandarins, lemons and orange are in abundance during the cooler months, as well as looking beautiful they can help you fight off the winter ills too with a good dose of Vitamin C.
Strawberries can also be planted in winter; it can actually help them produce more fruit in the summer by doing so. The flowers themselves cannot handle frosty conditions so this is where you frost covers will come in handy.
Winter Flowers
While most flowers are planted in spring, there are a few varieties that love the cooler months. Winter is a great time to plant roses as it is their dormant period. Like all plants, some are harder to care for than others. Check with your local specialty store and be sure to tell them about the spot you have planned for them. You want to make sure you have prepped your rose bed 3-4 weeks before planting with compost and any other nutrients they may need. Roses enjoy moisture rich areas, but need draining also. They thrive in a sunny location that has good air flow and can be the main focus point of any garden, roses demand attention.
Daphne, Camellia, Magnolias and Rhododendron are all beautiful winter flowering shrubs and trees. While they don’t like to be planted in the winter, they are showing their best in the cooler months. Consider planting some early in the season so you can be sure to enjoy them the following winter.
Lawn Care
If your lawn is all squishy and soggy good aeration may make a difference. A garden fork will work just fine if you have one, you can buy specialist tools from the local hardware store for the job. Simply make a series of small holes throughout your lawn, or problem areas. Avoid adding lime to your lawn until spring.
General tips
A general tidy up is a great idea to. Remove any dead heads from plants that have finished for the season, this will encourage new growth and flowers. Consider treating your blooming flowers to some liquid feed to encourage them to flower longer into the season. Keep them weed free and looking their best.
Your local Bunnings and Mitre10 have a wonderful range of seeds, plants, shrubs and trees. The helpful staff can advise on what’s best for your area and show the tools and supplements you may need to accompany your winter gardening job. For some inspiration you might like to visit the local Queens Gardens or Washbourn Gardens.
Happy gardening everyone!
Brent Palmer – Professional Real Estate Consultant
About the Author: The above article on Winter Gardening Tips was written and provided by Brent Palmer, a local leader in the field of Richmond and Nelson Real Estate sales, marketing, advanced technology for home selling, and social media. You can contact Brent Palmer here, or at 027 544 9921.
He has helped many people buy and sell homes in the Nelson, Stoke and Richmond areas for years, and would love the opportunity to help you as well.
Thinking of selling your home? I have a real passion for helping people sell their homes in our Nelson and Tasman Region, as well as the marketing, social media & advanced technology for home selling that goes along with it. I’d love to have the opportunity to sit down with you discuss how we can work together to get you the best price.
I help people buy and sell real estate in the following Nelson and Tasman towns & neighbourhoods: Wakefield, Brightwater, Hope, Appleby, Redwood Valley, Mapua, Stoke, Tahunanui, Atawhai and of course, Richmond and Nelson City. Connect with Brent on Facebook and pretty much everywhere else.
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