How to Plan a Winter Garden

If you live in a mild climate, you don't need to hang up your hoe in November. After all, winter gardening is what makes living in congested temperate zones worthwhile!

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Compost Makers
• Garden Trowels
• Plants
• Sand

1. Select a site in full sun. A south-facing garden bed or a bed under deciduous trees is best for a winter garden. Provide as much sunshine as possible during the short days of winter.

2. Prepare the soil. Perfect drainage is necessary for growing a winter garden. Add sand or organic compost to lighten the texture of the soil and to improve drainage.

3. Choose plants that thrive in winter. Some plants require cooler temperatures and less light, which make them perfect for the winter garden. Pansies, calendula, stock, and nemesia are annual flowering plants that thrive in winter. Broccoli, cilantro, cabbage, peas and radish are all vegetables that grow well in winter.

4. Space your plants further apart than in the summer months to provide maximum air circulation. Fungus disease thrives in damp, dark spaces. Providing breathing room between the plants will diminish the possibility of fungus or mildew problems.

5. Place taller plants on the north side of the planting bed and shorter varieties to the south to prevent tall plants from shading the lower-growing varieties.

Tips & Warnings

• Add winter-blooming shrubs such as sweet olive, daphne or witch hazel to your landscape plan.

• Watch for snails and slugs! These creatures also like cooler temperatures and dark hiding places.