Introduction
The end of the year is a great time to take stock of how your garden looks and make any necessary changes. Here are 20 things you can do in order to ensure that it’s in tip-top shape by springtime!
Check your lawn.
Now that it’s December, you’re probably spending most of your time indoors. The weather is cold and rainy, so why not take advantage of the break from outdoor activities by looking at what’s going on in your garden?
First things first: check for weeds. It’s easy to forget about them when they’re covered in snow or buried under leaves, but as soon as spring arrives they’ll be back! Weeds are often easier to spot than you think – especially if you have bare patches where grass used to grow before winter took its toll on it. If you see any weeds popping up through these areas, pull them out immediately with an old pair of pliers (or whatever else works). This will help keep them from spreading throughout other parts of your lawn later on.
Get rid of dead leaves.
Dead leaves can be a nuisance, especially if you have a lot of them. They can be unsightly and prevent sunlight from reaching your plants, which will make it more difficult for them to grow.
To get rid of dead leaves:
- Collect them in a bag or bucket. You may want to wear gloves so that you don’t accidentally cut yourself with any sharp edges on the leaves.
- Put them out with the garbage when it’s garbage day (if you live in an area where they pick up trash). If there are no designated pickup days in your neighborhood, leave your bags outside by 7am on the morning when collection takes place–this way they won’t clog up your garbage disposal or kitchen sink! Make sure not to forget about this task; otherwise those pesky piles could end up growing bigger than ever before!
Clean the garden tools.
To clean your garden tools, you’ll want to use a stiff brush and soap. First, wash all the blades with warm water and dish soap. Then allow them to dry completely before storing them in a safe place where they won’t be damaged.
Mow the grass regularly.
Mowing the lawn is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your garden looks its best. Mowing grass too short can damage it, and mowing too long will leave it looking unkempt and brown. For a healthy looking lawn, keep your grass at 2-3 inches tall–the perfect length for most types of grasses.
Mow often: at least once per week during warm weather months (spring through fall), less frequently during winter months when there are fewer hours of daylight and temperatures are cooler; if possible, try not to let more than two weeks pass between mows so that you don’t have to cut off much growth at once when the weather warms up again!
Don’t water too much: overwatering causes root rot which leads directly into browning out because it kills off all those precious roots underground where they’re supposed
to be doing all their work keeping things alive above ground level instead!
Reduce watering time and water more efficiently.
Reduce watering time and water more efficiently.
- Use a timer to turn off the water after a set amount of time.
- Use a rain sensor to automatically turn off the water when it rains.
Keep plants healthy and happy with a proper pruning.
The best time to prune plants is in late winter or early spring, but if you’re unable to do so, the end of the year is a good time as well. Pruning helps to remove dead, diseased or damaged branches from trees and shrubs; it also helps keep them healthy by controlling their size and shape. If you have an overgrown tree or shrub that’s causing problems with shading other plants in your garden, consider pruning it back during this time period so that next spring will bring renewed growth without any setbacks caused by overcrowding issues!
In addition to removing dead wood from your yard’s trees and bushes (or hedges), there are other benefits associated with proper pruning:
Remove any dead branches on trees or bushes, especially after windy weather or a storm.
Remove any dead branches on trees or bushes, especially after windy weather or a storm. Dead branches can fall off and cause damage to your garden or the house. They can also harbor pests and diseases that can affect other plants, shrubs, and flowers in the area. Dead branches also block sunlight from reaching other plants which could cause them to die as well. In addition to these benefits of pruning dead wood from your garden, it will make it look neater too!
Rake up leaves and other debris so that they do not become an eyesore or a haven for pests or diseases.
The end of the year is a great time to clean up your garden. Rake up leaves and other debris so that they do not become an eyesore or a haven for pests or diseases.
Leaves in gutters can cause water damage to your home, so keep them out of there by cleaning out the gutter regularly. If you have a lot of leaves on your lawn, consider using a leaf vacuum instead of raking them off manually; this will save time and energy! It’s important not to let piles of leaves build up around trees and shrubs because they could suffocate the plants underneath them after being piled there for too long (or even kill them). Also make sure not to let piles build up around flower beds–you don’t want any extra work when it comes time for spring planting! Finally, try not let any extra foliage pile up at the edge of your property where it could attract rodents such as squirrels who love eating greenery as much as anyone else does!
Trim hedges and trees, if needed.
If you have trees, shrubs and hedges in your garden, now is the time to trim them. Trimming can be done at any time of year but it’s best to do it before winter sets in so that you don’t risk damaging the plants with frost or snow.
- Prune dead branches from trees and shrubs
- Shape your trees and shrubs into an attractive shape
- Remove diseased or damaged branches from trees and shrubs (you may need professional help for this)
Mulch plants that are not going to survive the winter in their current location (and move them somewhere else for next year). This can help hold moisture in the soil around these plants and prevent erosion from wind and rain during this time when heavy winds may occur during winter storms. It also helps reduce weeds because it prevents dirt from splashing onto young seedlings as well as from drifting onto existing plants already established in the garden or yard area. Also helps retain moisture in beds waiting to be planted next spring ! Adds organic material to soil which improves its structure over time making it easier for roots to penetrate deep into soil better draining soil so it doesn’t get overly saturated when watering is necessary ! Soil gets aerated which means oxygen content is increased helping keep plant roots alive longer into winter without necessarily having to add fertilizer !
- Mulch plants that are not going to survive the winter in their current location (and move them somewhere else for next year). This can help hold moisture in the soil around these plants and prevent erosion from wind and rain during this time when heavy winds may occur during winter storms. It also helps reduce weeds because it prevents dirt from splashing onto young seedlings as well as from drifting onto existing plants already established in the garden or yard area. Also helps retain moisture in beds waiting to be planted next spring !
- Add organic material to soil which improves its structure over time making it easier for roots to penetrate deep into soil better draining soil so it doesn’t get overly saturated when watering is necessary ! Soil gets aerated which means oxygen content is increased helping keep plant roots alive longer into winter without necessarily having to add fertilizer !
Conclusion
The end of the year is a great time to take stock of your garden. You can clean up any dead leaves or branches that have fallen over the winter months. It will also give you a chance to check on plants before they start sprouting again in springtime. If there are any weeds growing among your flowers or shrubs, now is also when they should be removed before they flower again next year!