❄️🌿 Winterizing Your Garden: A Plant Doctor’s Guide 🌿❄️

As the days grow shorter and the nights colder, your garden starts sending signals: “Help me get ready for winter!” Preparing your plants now not only protects them through the cold, but also sets the stage for a vibrant spring comeback.

Here are a few smart steps to winterize your garden:

✔️ Cut Back, But Not Too Much Trim perennials down to a few inches above the soil. But leave ornamental grasses and seed heads—these add winter interest and provide food for birds.

✔️ Mulch for Warmth A blanket of mulch (2–4 inches) keeps soil temperatures steady, protects roots, and helps retain moisture. Think of it as a cozy comforter for your plants.

✔️ Protect Young Trees & Shrubs Wrap tender trunks with tree guards to prevent cracking, sunscald, or hungry deer looking for snacks in the snow.

✔️ Water Before the Freeze Give your evergreens and shrubs a deep drink before the ground freezes—hydrated roots handle winter stress better.

✔️ Clean & Store Tools Don’t forget your gardening tools! A quick clean, sharpen, and oiling keeps them in great shape for spring.

🌱 Plant Doctor’s Tip: Winterizing isn’t just about surviving the cold—it’s about ensuring your plants wake up strong, healthy, and ready to thrive when the seasons shift. A little care now goes a long way later.

💚 Leafy Green — helping your garden stay healthy year-round.