Practical Tips for Winter Garden Prep to Maximize Spring Growth in 2024

Hello and happy new year from Grow Your Own, your Fort Collins home gardening guide. Thank you for reading our blog where we will be sharing our knowledge of gardening to help you Grow Your Own.

With the holidays over and the new year well on its way, it is easy to forget that the spring will be upon us in a few short months. In like a lamb and out like a lion is the usual standard of the NoCo front range springtime experience. Now is the time for gardeners - new or experienced - to prepare for the coming spring and to tame that lion in advance.

First, the preservation of existing perennial gardens, shrubs, and trees is critical during the winter months as the dryness and cold can seriously damage plant roots and the beneficial bacteria and fungal colonies. Even though snow and rain grace the season, the actual amount of water that reaches plant roots and microbial communities is sparse. A generous watering once a month in January and February will protect these dormant gardens. A gallon per small plant, 5 gallons per bush, and 5 to 10 gallons per small tree will be enough to protect the roots and Biome communities.

All plants need some water during the winter to prevent them from drying out, but additionally, the extreme cold can damage roots and cause troublesome issues in the spring. Keeping the roots damp will essentially lock the root temperature at 32*F as water cannot become lower than that temperature. The roots and biome communities will be quite happy with this simple amendment.          

Second, planning the new year’s garden. Perhaps you are thinking about a new garden, refreshing an old plot, or simply interested in trying some new veggies or flowers. The end of winter is the best time to plan out the next garden phase. All gardeners know how hectic the spring can become when balancing all of life’s complexities and garden projects. Planning now frees up mental space for other projects and offers a relaxed period of time to be creative about what you would like to see from your garden/yard this summer and fall. Creativity about gardening can be production based, artistically motivated, or simply filling an empty space in your yard with something beautiful. The winter garden, though bare from the season, is a time when we should allow creativity to grow and bloom.

We at Grow Your Own understand the seasonal needs of the NoCo gardener and are ready to assist and work towards your vision. Schedule a Garden Chat where we will be glad to come assess your available gardening space and discuss any direction you would like to grow your garden or gardening skills.