10 Tips for Preparing Your Garden for Winter | The Old Farmer's Almanac

Winter is coming! How do you put your garden to bed for winter and prepare your garden for the dropping temperatures? See 10 tips for winterizing your garden beds—from covering garden soil to protecting trees and shrubs. Let’s talk winter care for vegetables, herbs, berry patches, perennials, roses, trees, and shrubs!

A. Tender vegetables do not tolerate frost and should be harvested before frost strikes. This includes tomatoes, zucchini, peas, beans, winter squash, and pumpkins. Pull out these plants and all crop debris. If plants are diseased, either burn them or discard them in the trash. Do not leave infected plants on the property nor put them in a compost pile.

B. Hardy vegetables tolerate hard frosts (usually 25° to 28°F) and can be left in the ground. They often taste better after a light frost.

C. Semi-hardy vegetables tolerate light frosts (usually 29° to 32°F). Many of these slightly more sensitive crops benefit significantly from protection, such as a cold frame or floating row cover, or you can harvest them before severe frosts have set in.

Note: Ensure any of the harvested vegetables are cured and stored correctly. See our Growing Guides on storage crops (onions, carrots, potatoes, winter squash). Of course, many crops can also be stored by canning and pickling. Finally, herbs can be dried or frozen in various ways.

→ See our Home Preservation Guides.

Herbs are a mixed bag when it comes to needing winter protection. Some are very hardy and can easily tolerate a cold season, while others will need some extra help:

Although many of us add it in the spring, you want to add compost in late autumn to let the soil soak up those nutrients over the winter. Add a couple of inches of compost or manure on top of your beds before the ground freezes. Then, add a light layer of straw or mulch to prevent soil erosion, nutrient leaching, and weed development. Please read our article on preparing soil for planting to determine what constitutes healthy soil.

Another option is to sow cover crops, such as winter rye, to improve your soil. See our article on Cover Crops to learn more about improving the health of your soil.

For vegetable gardens, another option is to simply cover your garden beds with black plastic or a layer of cardboard or even an old carpet, leaving it in place through the winter season and up until you’re ready to plant in spring. This will kill existing weeds and subdue sprouting seeds.

Berries tend to be hardy, but may require some fall pruning and care:

If you haven’t already turned off your water, do it! You don’t want the hose or irrigation connected when it frosts, or you may have damage. In warmer climates, it may be possible to simply disconnect the system from a hose spigot and allow the water to drain out. Still, in colder climates, you will want to either blast all the water out with an air compressor or bring everything inside for the winter.

Be proactive! Keep bird feeders topped up. Birds especially appreciate fatty, high-energy foods (such as suet) during cold months. Establish a feeding routine, offer water, and regularly clean feeders and bird baths to maintain good hygiene. See the best type of bird feeder.

Consider your garden “helpers” while you go through your fall garden checklist!

Now, watch our video on helpful advice on preparing your garden for winter.

We hope these tips will help your garden survive winter and thrive in spring! Please share your own advice or ask any questions below!

We’ve gathered our best beginner gardening guides into a step-by-step series designed to help you learn how to garden! Visit our complete Gardening for Everyone hub, where you’ll find a free series of guides! From selecting the right gardening spot to choosing the best vegetables to grow, our Almanac gardening experts are excited to teach gardening to everyone—whether it’s your 1st or 40th garden.

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Jacob Thopeng Mmotla (not verified)

1 year 4 months ago

Thanks for the informative read, and a generous idea of farming.

The Editors

1 year 4 months ago

In reply to Thanks for the informative… by Jacob Thopeng Mmotla (not verified)

Thanks, Jacob! What are you growing this year?

Betty (not verified)

5 years ago

I don't bother bringing in any sage leaves. I pick dried sage leaves all winter to use for chicken/turkey/duck. Had to replace my 17 yo sage that bit the dust in 2019. My new common sage plant grew nicely this summer.

Karen Roberts (not verified)

5 years 2 months ago

Our church has a large community garden with a large tree debris pile nearby. I was hoping that we could pull all of the woody debris into the garden area, burn the wood, and then spread the ashes over the garden before tilling the soil. Would this be helpful to do? Also, we've had squash bugs destroy our zucchini and yellow squash plants this summer. Do they overwinter in gardens? Would the tilling and other wintering processes get rid of the squash bugs that might remain? Thank you.

R.P.S (not verified)

5 years 4 months ago

Skimming the Topic just to keep myself alittle Self-Ed.

Ivy Heaton (not verified)

5 years 11 months ago

Thank you for the informative read! I never knew I should prepare my trees for winter. I've only very recently learned the importance of overall tree care, and will definitely add your winter tips to the list.

Martha Duensing (not verified)

6 years 4 months ago

I made your home made potting soil for my container garden and I have to say it was the best thing I have done for a successful garden. Better than any soil I have ever purchased. I would like to know what do I need to do this fall when the garden is done to prepare the soil for the next season. Your articles have been very helpful.

The Editors

6 years 4 months ago

In reply to Home made potting soil by Martha Duensing (not verified)

That’s great to hear, Martha!

See above, in the “Preparing Your Vegetable Garden for Winter” section, for some soil-prep tips! Preparing your soil mostly involves removing old plant matter, tilling the soil, and adding in compost.

Vikki Collie (not verified)

6 years 6 months ago

A Tornado came and destroyed or Glad's. Some have a few flowers but most have just foliage no flowers. I pull them all up with roots but I would like to know what to do next. I am in High Point North Carolina. Can I replant or do I need to cut them back about 2" and plant root only or can I plant the ones with foliage in hopes they might bloom this season? Thanks for your help. Love your site!

The Editors

6 years 6 months ago

In reply to Glad's by Vikki Collie (not verified)

So sorry about the tornado! We hope that everyone is OK! As to the glads, you might want to put them back in the soil, since they are showing signs of growth. Keep the foliage as is, uncut, unless they are showing signs of disease. Over the summer, the foliage will help the plant make food for itself in preparation for winter. Even though a corm might not flower this year, it might recover enough to spend energy on flowers the following year. For more information about growing glads, you might be interested in this page:

https://www.almanac.com/plant/gladiolus

High Point, NC, in in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b.Hope this helps!

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