When winter settles in, most people let their gardens rest until it passes into the spring. However, cold temperatures don’t always mean it’s time to call it quits for the season. There are a few strategies that allow at-home gardeners to continue maintaining a healthy garden without worry. If you’re willing to try your hand at it, consider a few of the best tips for maintaining a garden in the winter.

Protect Your Soil
When your regular plants can no longer thrive due to decreased sunlight and low temperatures, it’s time to place some cover crops. Cover crops are typically sturdier than the usual variety of plants and help prevent your soil from eroding. Things such as rye or clover are good examples of plants you can place down without worry until the frost wipes them out. However, some plants survive that as well, much to the benefit of your soil.
Arrange Your Gardening Tools
Preparing your tools before the next season saves you the trouble of rifling through messy storage during busy days. It’s good to know how hose nozzle setting impacts plant growth and to consider upgrading your nozzles during the off-season. While tools typically last a long time, seasoned ones inevitably experience wear. Replacing any tools with rust or damage ensures you have the best tools to work with in the spring and summer.
Clean Out Weak Plants
Normally, dead plants help provide extra nutrients in your garden. However, when winter comes around, it’s best to eliminate ones with signs of weakness or potential disease. Eliminating potentially diseased plants reduces the chance of causing issues in the spring, allowing you to start your garden from the ground up.
The best parts of gardening are the different challenges you can set for yourself. Getting ahead of schedule in the winter is a helpful way to set yourself up for success early on. As you consider a few of the best tips for maintaining a garden in the winter, remember that enjoying a flourishing garden is easier when the hard work is out of the way.