By 1808Delaware
The weeks leading up to winter can feel like a slow tightening of the landscape. By December, our region’s clay soil begins to settle into its long freeze, and whatever care we give the garden now determines how well it wakes up in spring. The good news, according to Delaware County gardeners and horticulturalists, is that most plants need only a handful of simple steps to make the transition.
General Garden and Bed Care
A deep watering before the ground locks up gives evergreens, shrubs, and anything planted this past year the reserves they need. Once a first hard frost arrives, add a two to three inch layer of mulch around plant bases. This stabilizes soil temperature and keeps roots from heaving during freeze and thaw cycles.
Clearing out spent annuals and weeds helps cut down on pests and disease. If you want to support overwintering insects, leave a portion of beds undisturbed. In vegetable plots, crops like kale or late lettuce benefit from simple protection. Frost blankets or netting can stretch the harvest for a few extra weeks.
Trees and Shrubs
Young trees and shrubs respond well to a final deep soaking in the weeks before the first hard frost. Fertilizer should be applied at least a month ahead of that point so nutrients settle in before dormancy. In exposed yards, burlap wraps help protect sensitive shrubs and young trunks from winter wind and sunscald. Tree guards or wire mesh keep deer and rabbits from treating bark as a snack when food gets scarce.
Deciduous trees and many shrubs welcome pruning once they are fully dormant. Winter pruning helps shape their growth and lets you see branch structure clearly.
Containers and Houseplants
Once nights stay below 40°F, move tropicals and tender containers indoors. A quick pest check before you bring them inside saves headaches later. Clay pots should be stored out of the cold so they do not crack.
Final Steps Before the Freeze
Give the landscape one last thorough watering and put any protective structures in place. This is the point to stake burlap, secure wraps, and cover fragile produce. After that, your garden enters its quiet season, already on its way toward a healthier spring.
Winter Soil and Wildlife Care
Even as the surface freezes, life continues underground and beneath leaf litter. Building soil health now pays long-term dividends. A layer of compost or shredded leaves added before the ground fully hardens begins to break down slowly over winter, enriching the soil for spring planting. Avoid tilling at this stage—the soil’s structure is fragile when cold and wet. Instead, let earthworms and microorganisms do the work naturally. Leaving seed heads on select perennials such as coneflower or black-eyed Susan provides food for birds, while brush piles or log corners offer shelter for overwintering insects and small wildlife. These simple actions help maintain a healthy balance in the garden ecosystem through the dormant season.
