We humans typically spend less time in our gardens during the winter months, so it can be easy to forget about the plants that live there. However, our trees, shrubs, and perennials are very alive and active during the winter.
So, what is your garden doing in the winter months, and what can you do to support plant health? Here are some answers to Frequently Asked Questions about plants and planting in winter.
A native fern provides a pop of green in the winter garden.
Ideally, when is the best time to plant?
All things being equal, fall is our preferred planting time. The lower temperatures make the transition from the nursery to your yard much less stressful for trees and shrubs, as compared to the middle of the summer.
Plus, those plants will have the entire winter to focus on root growth, and they will hit the next season with a lot of forward momentum. Winter planting offers this same benefit as well.
Can trees and shrubs be planted in the winter? Is it good for them?
As long as the ground is not frozen, trees and shrubs can be planted at any time of year. Because the soil is not exposed to air temperatures and is often insulated by mulch and/or snow, soil temperatures are often significantly warmer than air temperatures.
A large portion of a plant’s root growth occurs throughout the fall and winter, whereas it focuses energy on foliage growth during the growing season. This means trees and shrubs planted in winter will prioritize establishing their roots and will be better prepared for the growing season when it comes around in the spring.
Is plant maintenance different for a garden that’s installed in the winter?
Even though they are most likely dormant, newly installed plants still need water when planted in the winter. Plan to “water in” new plantings just as you would at any other time of the year, and offer occasional supplemental watering over the next few weeks.
A bonus of winter watering is that saturated soils maintain a higher temperature on average than dry soils, which can help prevent frost heaving and root damage.
The winter months are a great time to conduct structural pruning. Because deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, it’s easier to see crossed and broken branches. Here, an Our Land Organics team member prunes woody shrubs.
How will I know if my plants are healthy in the winter?
Since many plants drop their leaves in the winter, plant health can be difficult to ascertain. There are a couple things we can do, though, to check on our plants in the winter.
For young trees and shrubs, we can check for die-back by conducting a scratch test. Lightly scratch off a small section of bark with your thumbnail to reveal the layer beneath. If that layer is green, then the plant is alive in that particular area; if the under-layer is brown, that section of the plant has died.
Winter also is a great time to inspect the structure of trees and shrubs, because the leaves are out of the way. If you see any broken or rubbing branches, it’s a good idea to conduct some structural pruning. With a few exceptions, most plants can be pruned in winter without health risks. Learn more about winter pruning do’s and don'ts in our blog post.
The Our Land Organics team builds and restores landscapes all year round.