The climate in zone 5 is cold. There is a lot of frost and snow in the winters. Choosing plants for this kind of climate is difficult. But the hardest part about gardening in zone 5 is taking care of the plants. Here are some useful tips for you on how you could take care of your plants in all the months in the year.
January and February:
In the first month of the year it would be better to order some catalogues for your benefit. Dead branches of trees act as a good fertilizer in the winter. You could also do some cleaning around the garden; for example clean all the pots that hold the plants before starting to sow seeds. Dispose off all the diseased wood immediately after it is spotted.
March and April:
Before beginning, make sure that the soil is dry enough to crumble in your hands. Service and repair all the tools required for gardening. Setting up a note taking place in your garden might help. Mulching your garden beds with 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch is also a good option. And as winter is the perfect time to sharpen your gardening skills, you must visit all local gardens to make notes about the winter habits of shrubs and perennials.
May:
Whenever there is forecast about an approaching frost, make sure to cover all your soft and delicate plants. You must also search for earwigs and pillbugs and treat them as required. Planting hanging baskets before or just after the date of a predicted frost is also a good idea. You might want to consider the use of a soil additive which will help retain moisture. These additives are generally available in crystalline form.
June and July:
Edge all the garden beds. Save all the surplus seeds for next year. As June is a summer month, using a cool hand towel tied around the back of your neck would be a sensible thing to do. And don’t forget to put on liberal amounts of sunscreen. To reduce pest population make sure that all the pet bowls and bird baths are cleaned regularly. To reduce the mosquito population in ponds, introduce a substantial population of dragon flies. Also, make a place where you can keep some insect eating frogs.
August and September:
You must sharpen, oil and clean all your tools before storing them for this fall. Painting the handles of wooden tools with bright colors is a good idea as it will prevent them from drying and will make them easy to spot in the garden. Empty all your greenhouses in the end of summer and scrub them clean. During fall, clean your garden and install many bins around your garden to dispose off all your waste.
October, November and December:
As the winter approaches, clean up all the compost and debris from all plant beds. Drain all the hoses and store them for the winter. Once the frosts have arrived, clean and empty all clay containers and store them in an enclosed space to prevent them from cracking. Plan new landscape designs for the coming year. Make sure that all your pesticides and insecticides are stored in a safe and ventilated area.
