Garden jobs that can be completed after the first frost

October 30, 12:32 PMSeattle Garden & Kitchen ExaminerJerry & Kristy

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Get your garden jobs completed before the winter sets in!

The frost is hitting the greater Seattle area. This means a lot of our gardening chores are put on hold. There are a few more things to do now, before the really cold weather hits. Here are our six garden and landscaping chores that can be tackled after the first frost but need to be done before the winter weather hits.

1. Clean Beds
Do a final cleaning of your flower and vegetable beds. Add plants and leaves to compost – bag up and dispose of any that you even suspect may be diseased in any way, do not put them in your compost.

2. Care for Perennials
Now is the time to cut back the rest of your perennials (way back, almost level with the ground) that have stopped providing winter color. Add a layer of mulch over the cut back perennials to protect them through the winter.

3. Mulch, Mulch and Mulch
Add a nice thick layer (up to 4” on beds, 6” on tree bases) of mulch over beds as well as shrub and tree bases. This will protect the roots, hold in moistures, keep weeds out and keep the plants safe from the winter elements.

4. Protect Trees
If you have weather-sensitive trees or newly transplanted ones it may behoove you to take some extra protection steps. Make sure they are staked well enough to withstand heavy winds and/or snow.

You can either wrap the tree trunk in burlap or devise a wind screen by placing stakes about 12 inches from the base of the tree. Take burlap and wrap it around the stakes, nailing or stapling it into place.

5. Drain and Close down Water System
If you have ever had a broken water pipe you will understand how important this step is. Drain your hoses, sprinkler lines and then close down your system. Finish by covering sockets with foam covers.

6. Don’t Forget the Birds
The colder the weather, the more help the birds needs. Make sure your birdfeeders are well stocked; suet is a good thing to hang from the trees. Watch that the water does not freeze by adding a drop of oil once the temperature drops below freezing at night.