Sorry if this post sounds a bit basic. I went through the wiki, but it seems to be made for people who already know a good bit, which I’m not.
I moved homes in June, and now I have a real garden for the first time. There’s a small lawn, a concrete area, and three levels of plant beds leading up to a gravel spot. I haven’t shared photos since that’s not too important right now. The tiered beds have some big shrubs, a few gladioli, and some other plants I can’t name. Maybe some Black-Eyed Susan?
Since I’ve never gardened before, what are the very basic things I should do this winter to prepare for spring?
The summer flowers have died off now. Should I be removing dead leaves and flower heads?
The bushes have grown a bit, and one flowered but has stopped now. Is this a good time to trim them back a bit?
I’ve heard that waiting a year can be good to see how things go, but I don’t want to let the garden get out of hand in the meantime! If anyone has a beginner’s guide on what I should do through the seasons, I would really appreciate it. Thanks everyone!
@Conley
Thanks for all this helpful advice. I’ll start by identifying what I’ve got and think about what I want to do with it all. We’ve got some lovely wildlife in the trees and shrubs behind the property, so I definitely want to encourage that. I’ll check out the resources you’ve mentioned.
Don’t worry about ruining your garden! You have years of fun and learning ahead of you. Just take it easy.
Try to avoid walking on your lawn in this wet weather. It can make the soil compacted, which isn’t good for it.
Herbs like good drainage, so sandy soil would be best. You can grow herbs in pots and place them on the gravel area as long as it’s sunny.
Don’t trim any plants unless you know what they actually are. Some shrubs, like hydrangeas, already have their flower buds for next year, and cutting them back now would remove those buds.
The PlantNet app is excellent for identifying your plants.
After that, just search for each plant to find out if it flowers and how to care for it.
Since I’ve taken advice from this forum, I’ve got a range of heights, colors (including different leaf colors), and flowering times in my small garden.
If you don’t want to spend too long in your garden, check out some local garden centers to see what grows well in your area, and ask for ideas!
That makes sense! I want to plant some easy-care flowers and bushes, and maybe some herbs too. But mainly I want to fill in gaps that weeds are taking over.
Right now, I don’t want to mess anything up for spring by ignoring something obvious.
Get yourself a good book to look through while planning your garden. I found ‘You will be able to garden by the end of this book’ a great start. Begin checking out plants and colors you like and go from there.
Do you have a friend or family member who enjoys gardening? I think the best way to learn is to walk around your garden with someone who knows about gardening and let them tell you what everything is and how to care for it. Most gardeners love visiting others’ gardens and sharing advice! (Are you near my area by chance?)
You don’t need to do anything urgent in winter. Some people like to tidy up by cutting things back and cleaning up, but you can wait until spring when new growth appears. For some plants, like penstemon and hydrangeas, it’s better to keep the old growth for frost protection, and leaving things messy can help wildlife too. The only exception is taller roses, which might need a little trimming to help them stay stable in the wind.
The best thing to do is mulch correctly with organic material like well-rotted manure. If you live near the countryside, there are people with horses who might let you get as many bags as you want for free by asking in local Facebook groups. Just make sure it’s well-rotted manure—if it’s not, you might get a lot of weed seeds in it. Personally, I don’t mind weeds too much since my garden is packed, but if you dislike weeding, you can buy manure from places that prep it and keep weeds to a minimum, although it costs more. Mulching with manure helps improve soil texture, water absorption, and moisture retention. You don’t need to dig it in, just spread it on top. Don’t worry about covering plants—they’ll push through in spring. It’ll also help to suppress weeds. You don’t have to mulch, but if you want to do one job from now until February, this is it.
Another thing you might want to do is plant bulbs. It’s a bit late for most, but you can still try. Tulips are usually the best choice if you’re late. Daffodils and alliums are also worth planting. Buy a bulb planter from Amazon for a few bucks and get them in there ASAP. Most places might be out of stock on bulbs now, but look up ‘Spring bulb sale’ if you’re interested.
When to prune and shape shrubs is right after they have flowered—this is in late spring and early summer. If you prune now, you’ll cut off this year’s flowers. The basic rule is to prune things that bloom before June right after they flower. For others that bloom in June or later, prune in late winter or early spring since their flowers grow on the current year’s growth.
Just remember, good luck and don’t stress too much. I knew nothing when I started gardening, but ten years of trying things, watching gardening shows, and looking things up has helped me a lot. You’re very unlikely to harm any established plants that are already there. Plants are generally tough.
I’m afraid details are really important in gardening. It’s not just about what’s currently there but also what you want out of it.
There is no simple answer to what you should do. A garden is meant to reflect the wishes of its owner.
Even if you’re worried about what others think, like not wanting to be judged by neighbors, how you care for your plants really depends on the plants themselves and the conditions of your specific garden.
For instance, some people will tell you to tidy and prune many shrubs and perennials in winter (though some plants don’t appreciate it), simply because they like that look or feel they should do this to avoid judgment. Others will say to skip tidying or pruning unless there’s a good reason, as they prefer a more natural appearance and don’t want to be judged as careless.
The one thing I can suggest is to ignore other people’s opinions and use this winter to watch your garden, identify your plants, read their care needs, and think about how to make the space work for your happiness.
@Abi
I’m realizing there isn’t a one size fits all answer. I’ll focus on identifying plants and will come back later with pictures and more specific questions. Thanks!
You don’t really need to clean up dead leaves since they will break down and help the soil while also being good for wildlife. The only exception is rose bushes, where you’ll want to remove any fallen leaves to help control disease. Right now, focus on mulching around your borders to keep the soil insulated and retain moisture over the summer. It’s a great time to plant sweet peas, and you can get snowdrop plants to put in a few weeks from now. Take a trip to your local garden center to check for discounts; many plants won’t look like much now, so you can grab some deals to enjoy once they start growing. You can also plant bare root roses, trees, and fruit bushes now. Look through seed and bulb catalogs to plan what you’d like to grow next year—plenty to keep you busy!
I recommend finding some good books. I find traditional photos easier to understand. Garden design books often go on sale, and bookstores have lots of tempting ones.
I’d suggest mulching a bit and then leaving things alone to see what comes up in spring or summer. Plants can be pricey, and you might find hidden gems left by the previous owners. But if it’s clearly a non-gardening house, then it’s unlikely you will find any plants. Get to planning and setting up your beds. Exciting times ahead!