How To Winterize Your Garden In Montana This Fall

Fall Is A Good Time To Get Your Plants Ready For Our Cold Montana Winters

Heading into fall is a great time to get your yard winter-ready. There are a few simple things you can do to to help your plants make it through the winter.

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Where Do You Start Your Montana Plant Winterization?

I usually start before the first frost. For me, it seems safer to just button down the yard mid-September.

• Remove your annual plants and flowers. Plants and flowers can go in your compost.
• While you're getting rid of annuals, do your best to get rid of weeds. Pull the weed up by the root and put it in the trash, not a compost bin. Weeds winter well and they'll be stronger next year
• Trim your perennials back before the winter frost
• Mulch. Applying mulch to plants and trees helps insulate them throughout the winter. Application varies a bit plant by plant, so do a bit of research for your yard. Remember, getting a mulch that doesn't collapse is crucial for survival
• Take care of your potted plants. Some may come indoors for the winter. Be sure to treat them for bugs. Be sure to get them as much light as is possible in the winter, but be careful of over watering. Plants don't need near as much water in the winter.
• Some say to dig up your bulbs, remove the dirt, dry them, put them in a box and plant in the spring. I say if the bulb is meant to live in Montana it will come up. If not, perhaps it's not suited to be a Montana flower.

Finally, My Opinion On Fall Brush For Winter Shelter For Critters

I usually leave leaves and grasses and some sage plants up for the winter. This year, the bug situation at my place was so insane I'm going commando this year.

I'm cutting down everything.

You try to be nice, try to give critters a better winter and how do they thank us? Trying to overtake my yard. I am so done with the bugs.

Sources: HGTV, American Home Shield