Prepare your garden to survive winter

Photo: Contributed

Okanagan Xeriscape Association member Rachael's garden in winter. It survives winter's icy blast because she follows Sigrie Kendrick's tips for keeping it thriving through the cold months.

While xeriscape gardens are designed to be low-maintenance and drought-resistant, proper winter preparation ensures your water-wise landscape will thrive come spring.

Follow the following essential steps to protect and maintain your garden in a way that will help it survive during the cold months.

• Proper mulching is crucial for winter protection in xeriscape gardens. We will be mulching the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden this week, which will involve:

1. Checking existing mulch depths and replenishing as needed.

2. Maintaining at least a four-inch layer around plants.

3. Keeping mulch pulled back slightly from plant stems and tree trunks to discourage disease.

4. Leaving fallen leaves for additional winter protection.

Organic mulches break down over time, enriching the soil while protecting plant roots from freeze-thaw cycles.

• While xeriscape plants are generally hardy, some may need extra protection, especially given our increasingly erratic weather, so remember to:

1. Add extra mulch around root zones of marginally-hardy perennials.

2. Consider using frost cloths or burlap wraps for vulnerable plants.

3. Create temporary windbreaks for exposed areas.

4. Group container plants together in protected locations remembering that plants above ground need to be at least two zones hardier to survive.

• Never let your garden go into winter dry even if it means hauling hoses after your irrigation has been blown out. Despite being drought-tolerant, xeriscape plants can benefit from occasional winter watering, so:

1. Water during warm spells when the soil isn't frozen.

2. Focus on newly-planted specimens and evergreens.

3. Water early in the day to allow absorption before freezing temperatures return.

4. Pay special attention to plants under roof overhangs or in wind-exposed locations.

Winter is ideal for garden planning, so next year, photograph your garden through the seasons and from different vantage points for reference, and note areas that need improvement. During the indoor winter months, plan spring additions or modifications, and do your research. For instance, look into potential native plants to consider for additions. Native pollinators will thank you.

Also, if you have a smart meter on your irrigation, use it to review water usage patterns from the previous season with the aim of lowering your consumption.

Some tips to remember before winter ends:

1. Monitor for snow damage and prune plants as needed.

2. Check for frost-heaved plants and reset them.

3. Begin removing winter protection as temperatures warm.

4. Assess mulch displacement from snow and wind.

5. Plan for spring clean-up and maintenance.

By following these guidelines, your xeriscape garden will remain healthy through winter and be ready for robust spring growth.

Remember that xeriscaping principles focus on working with nature rather than against it, realizing that even winter serves a purpose in the natural cycle of your garden.

Visit our website at okanaganxeriscape.org to read our latest blog post on Judie Steeves’ garden transformation this year and follow us on social media for inspiration on the sustainable beauty that is xeriscape.

The Okanagan Xeriscape Association is grateful for the ongoing financial support of the Okanagan Basin Water Board and is proud to be collaborating with them on the Make Water Work campaign. Check out its Make Water Work plant list at makewaterwork.ca.

Sigrie Kendrick is a master gardener and executive-director of the non-profit Okanagan Xeriscape Association.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.