Green Thumb Winter Activities Until Spring. Winter, with its shorter days and chilly temperatures, may seem like a challenging time for gardening enthusiasts, particularly in regions with frozen soil. However, even when the ground is unworkable, there are several productive and satisfying activities to keep green thumbs active and nurture the love for plants, according to Mike Millerson, founder of Survive Nature.
Take Gardening Workshops: Engage in gardening workshops conducted during the winter months to enhance existing skills and learn new ones. Winter is an ideal time to participate in educational sessions that can contribute to your gardening expertise.
Add Fallen Leaves to Garden Beds: Instead of discarding fallen leaves during fall and winter cleanup, incorporate them into garden beds. Blowing leaves into beds can create natural compost, enriching the soil as it breaks down over the winter months.
Make Evergreen Wreaths: Get crafty during the winter by making evergreen wreaths. These versatile decorations can be adorned with various elements, such as brass bells and fairy lights for winter, or dried flowers for early spring.
Expand Gardening Knowledge: Take advantage of the downtime by delving into gardening and floral design books that you might not have had time for during the growing season. Use winter to expand your gardening knowledge and explore new ideas.
Organize Gardening Space: If you have an outdoor shed or a designated space for gardening tools, winter is the perfect time to tidy up and organize. This ensures that tools are easily accessible and provides an opportunity to assess and replace any items that may need attention.
Tickseed Planting: Explore perennial plants like Tickseed (Coreopsis), known for its long-lasting, bright daisy-like blooms. Winter can be an excellent time to plan and prepare for introducing new plants to your garden.
Embracing these activities during the winter months not only keeps gardening enthusiasts engaged but also contributes to the preparation and planning for the upcoming growing season. Winter, far from being a dormant period, can be a time of productivity and growth for those passionate about cultivating a thriving garden.
Winter Gardening Wisdom: Learn and Grow in Workshops
Contrary to the expectation that gardening is reserved for the warmer seasons, you can immerse yourself in gardening workshops even during the winter months.
According to Meredith McGraw Bishop, founder of Bloom and Bounty, many farms, including hers, host winter workshops to share valuable Tips and Tricks for gardening.
One particularly cherished workshop highlighted by Bishop is the soil-blocking workshop.
This session imparts knowledge on a technique that allows individuals to grow an impressive 160 plants indoors, all on a surface as compact as a cafeteria tray. These winter workshops become opportunities to not only refine existing gardening skills but also acquire new techniques that can be applied during the colder months.
Participating in gardening workshops in winter offers a unique chance to deepen your connection with plants and nature.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a novice, these educational sessions provide a nurturing environment for learning and growing, ensuring that your gardening endeavors thrive throughout the seasons.
Natural Garden Enrichment: Utilize Fallen Leaves for Soil Health
Rather than discarding fallen leaves during your fall and winter yard cleanup, consider adding them to your garden beds as a sustainable and beneficial practice.
Meredith McGraw Bishop, founder of Bloom and Bounty, suggests blowing leaves into the beds to create a natural compost that will break down over winter, nourishing the soil life beneath.
Leaves, as they decompose, contribute valuable organic matter to the soil, enhancing its structure and fertility.
This natural composting process helps create a nutrient-rich environment that supports plant growth. Moreover, fallen leaves serve as shelter for beneficial insects, offering a habitat that can reduce the need for pesticides.
By incorporating fallen leaves into your garden beds, you not only practice eco-friendly gardening but also contribute to the overall health and resilience of your garden ecosystem.
This simple yet effective approach aligns with the principles of sustainable gardening, fostering a harmonious relationship between nature and your cultivated plants.
Crafty Winter Delight: DIY Evergreen Wreaths for Seasonal Decor
Embrace the winter season with a delightful and creative activity—crafting evergreen wreaths.
According to Meredith McGraw Bishop, founder of Bloom and Bounty, evergreen wreaths are both simple and Versatile, serving as a wonderful way to keep your hands busy and adorn your home with seasonal charm.
To personalize your evergreen wreaths, Bishop suggests adding brass bells, fairy lights, and velvet ribbon for a cozy winter ambiance.
The addition of these elements brings a touch of warmth and festive flair to your creations. As the seasons transition, consider switching to dried flowers for an early spring aesthetic, ensuring that your wreaths remain a dynamic and ever-evolving part of your decor.
Engaging in the art of making evergreen wreaths not only provides a creative outlet but also allows you to infuse your home with handmade charm.
Whether you’re crafting solo or making it a festive activity with friends and family, these wreaths become unique expressions of your style, adding a personal touch to your winter decor.
Winter Wisdom: Cozy Up with Gardening and Floral Design Books
Embrace the quieter moments of winter by delving into the world of gardening and floral design through a stack of carefully chosen books.
Meredith McGraw Bishop encourages gardening enthusiasts to seize the cozy downtime, especially if the warmer months were filled with bustling gardening activities.
Reading gardening and floral design books not only provides a wealth of knowledge but also offers inspiration and insights that can enhance your skills.
Whether you’re interested in refining your gardening techniques, learning about new plant varieties, or exploring the art of floral design, the winter season provides the perfect backdrop for expanding your gardening knowledge.
As you cozy up with a cup of tea or coffee, let the pages of these books transport you to lush gardens and vibrant floral arrangements.
This winter reading journey not only cultivates your understanding of plants and design but also deepens your connection with the beauty and intricacies of the natural world.
Winter Gardening TLC: Organize Your Gardening Space
Take advantage of the cooler months to give your gardening space, whether it’s an outdoor shed or another designated area, some much-needed attention.
Gardening expert Clayton suggests tidying up your garden bench and tool shed during this time, transforming it into a well-organized and efficient space.
Organizing your gardening space serves a dual purpose.
Firstly, it makes it easier to find the tools and equipment you need when you need them, streamlining your gardening activities. Secondly, it provides an opportunity to take stock of your gardening inventory, helping you assess what you have and identify items that might need replacing.
Consider implementing storage solutions, labeling containers, and arranging tools in a logical order.
This not only enhances the functionality of your gardening space but also sets the stage for a seamless transition into the upcoming growing season. As you create an organized and tidy environment, you’ll find that the process of gardening becomes more enjoyable and efficient.
*The information is for reference only.