Garden Series: How to Winterize and Protect Your Garden TIP 3

By Catherine Boeckmann

April 7, 2025

Source: Almanac

Photo Source: Unsplash,

3. Cover Up the Garden Beds

Although many of us add it in the spring, you want to add compost in late autumn to let the soil soak up those nutrients over the winter. Add a couple of inches of compost or manure on top of your beds before the ground freezes. Then, add a light layer of straw or mulch to prevent soil erosion, nutrient leaching, and weed development. Please read our article on preparing soil for planting to determine what constitutes healthy soil.

Another option is to sow cover crops, such as winter rye, to improve your soil. See our article on Cover Crops to learn more about improving the health of your soil.

For vegetable gardens, another option is to simply cover your garden beds with black plastic or a layer of cardboard or even an old carpet, leaving it in place through the winter season and up until you’re ready to plant in spring. This will kill existing weeds and subdue sprouting seeds.

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