dTest: Winterizing the garden - Independent tests, more than just reviews

Garden versus park

In its original meaning, the word garden means a small enclosure or enclosed space. In some countries and languages, gardens established for specific purposes have one-word names, elsewhere everything "falls" under the general term garden, to which the purpose is added by an adjective (for example, a herb or ornamental garden). Until recently, the words garden and park were considered synonymous, but in the 21st century, their meaning began to differ slightly. The term garden is currently used for enclosed and more or less private areas, park then for a place to stay in a pleasant environment and usually in an open public space.

Gardening settlements

Gardening settlements (more often colonies) are plots of land consisting of a number of plots that are used by private individuals for gardening and horticultural activities. Colonies are often run by an association that rents plots with individual gardens to members. In the Czech Republic, the operator of a large number of gardening colonies is the Czech Gardening Association. In addition to lawns, flower beds and other growing areas (eg greenhouses), there are also often garden houses on rented plots. They should not be intended for living, but they can be used for a temporary stay, for example on a weekend or holiday.

After a long winter, almost everyone who has this relaxing weekend zone looks forward to a cottage with a garden. Even though the mercury on the thermometer barely licks ten and the weather does not encourage a long stay outside, many impatient people are already at least dusting off their gardening tools so that they can rush to work as soon as possible.

When the summer asks what you did in the winter

But in the fall, you can't see the cottager outside much anymore. And this despite the fact that at this time of the year the garden requires at least as much care as in the spring. If the gardener wants to celebrate success the following year, he should not underestimate the winter months. It is necessary to protect both flowers, trees and shrubs from weather fluctuations, especially snow and frost.

If you don't know how to winterize your garden yourself, contact the experts. A number of companies currently provide comprehensive garden services from lawn maintenance to tree pruning, spring and autumn leaf raking and winterization.

If you want to throw yourself into preparing the garden for winter, the advice of Heřman Havelka, an expert in garden care, who gave us an interview, could come in handy.

In it, he mentions the essential steps that are necessary for the successful winterization of plants, lawns and flower beds, but also the most common mistakes that gardeners make during these activities. Some are said to be too overinformed and winterize even what they don't need, often using inappropriate materials. Others skip wintering altogether.

Interview with a garden care expert

We asked garden care expert Heřman Havelka what needs to be done in the garden so that it will serve you well next season.

What do you consider to be the most important winterization step for the garden to thrive next year?

Given the course of the weather, water properly and check the depth of watering. I can water for an hour and the water is only five centimeters below the surface and it is already dry below. Most plants do not freeze in winter, but dry out. It is also advisable to fertilize with fertilizers containing more potassium and phosphorus and less (or not at all) nitrogen.

How important is the correct timing of preparing the garden for winter?

Of course it is important. The aforementioned watering and fertilizing should begin in August at the latest so that the plants can absorb it. It is unnecessary and dangerous to cover or wrap plants at higher temperatures, they can grow and freeze more easily. But most of the work can be done at any time, basically according to our time possibilities.

What care do trees and shrubs need before winter?

Protection against frost by wrapping, mounding (filling with a pile of soil, editor's note) and the like is suitable and sometimes necessary for less resistant plants, not just shrubs and trees. It is also necessary to take into account microclimatic influences - drafts, winter winds, frost basins and the like. This protection is usually not intended to act on the principle of clothes that keep a person warm, but is important for distributing possible temperature jumps. For example, roses can withstand frosts of -20, -30 degrees Celsius, but they cannot withstand a temperature jump, for example +10 degrees during the day, -10 degrees at night.

Protection against animal bites is usually an absolute necessity, a good fence, mechanical or other protection is suitable. We also have to be aware of the likely height of the snow cover and, if necessary, protect higher branches and parts of plants.

How to take care of the beds after the season so that next year's harvest will be rich?

If we are talking about vegetables, annuals and other, "plants that do not grow in winter" (dahlias, potatoes), then it is appropriate remove plant debris. Diseases and pests usually overwinter on them. It is advisable to dig up the flower beds (a larger area captures moisture, which is now the subject of discussion, it is recommended to loosen it). We should also fertilize them with stock, slow-dissolving fertilizers, add compost or manure to them, all according to the requirements of the plants in question. Sometimes they are also treated against diseases and pests. All this, apart from engraving, also applies to some bushes, trees, flowers.

How do you recommend treating the lawn before winter?

It depends on the type of lawn. Caring for an English lawn is one thing, a flowery meadow is another. In principle, it is good to mow to a higher height, dig up, fertilize, treat against moss or possibly threatening diseases, for example snow mold.

How should you prepare perennials for the next season before winter?

Some should be pruned, some that like to freeze, which includes most ornamental grasses, should be left and pruned until spring. In principle, we follow the rules for cutting specific plants. Some perennials also need to be protected from excessive winter moisture. These are mostly plants from areas where there is snow, but it does not melt during the winter and remains until spring. We also protect these plants against frost, because in their homeland they are protected by a high layer of snow.

Beyond culture and nature

An interesting trip tip for gardeners and culture lovers is the London Garden Museum. It is located in the nave of the former church on the south bank of the Thames and, thanks to its rich collection of period prints, photographs, posters, as well as gardening tools, it shows the history of gardening. The exhibition is devoted to various types of gardens - from royal ones to gardening colonies. It is open every day except the first Monday of the month. More information can be found at www.gardenmuseum.org.uk.

How is it appropriate to remove annuals and how to treat the soil in which they grew?

The same applies to beds with annuals as to vegetables. Pull out, dig up and fertilize.

What are the most common mistakes garden owners make when winterizing their gardens?

They don't use "common sense". They unreservedly believe information from various irrelevant sources and advertisements, they accept one-sided information from the Internet such as "one lady said", etc. They exaggerate - they cut everything, if possible immediately, dig deep into the subway. They wrap plants that don't need or don't want it in sometimes completely inappropriate packaging (fabric, plastic, paper, etc.), preferably in August. Or they will do nothing at all. Other mistakes include failure to observe the correct time (fertilizing with potassium against frost in November, wrapping in protective fabric against frost at the beginning of September, etc.), exaggerating the doses of fertilizers and using the wrong ones, pruning what does not want to be pruned (currant, rhododendron, peach, ...) , very low cutting of the lawn and perennials.

Types of gardens

Currently, most people think of a pleasant space surrounding an object when they think of a garden. However, it may not occur to Laika that there are many types of gardens. Come and remember some of them with us.

Country gardens. They can be seen often and practically everywhere around. They usually surround family houses or cottages and are surrounded by a fence. In addition to a well-maintained lawn and mostly fruit trees, flowers from roses to peonies also have their place. Gardens tend to be colorful and diverse.

Front gardens. Smaller spaces in front of the house, often around the entrance to the house. Front gardens are often unfenced or are bordered more symbolically, for example by flowers or hedges. It mainly fulfills an aesthetic function and we won't find larger bushes or trees here.

Useful gardens. Areas intended for growing vegetables, fruits and herbs. Each crop here has a defined area. It is advisable to take care of its easy accessibility so that it is possible to simply treat the plants and then harvest the crops. For herbs, it is good to think about planting near the house, so that it is not necessary to run to the other end of the garden for them every time the gardener needs them in the kitchen.

Ornamental gardens. These gardens are not used for growing fruit or vegetables. Their main purpose is recreation and/or representation and they mainly fulfill an aesthetic function. The field of garden architecture deals with the modification of ornamental gardens. Their creation is mostly done by professional gardeners or landscape architects. They are able to design the arrangement of bushes, trees and flowers in such a way that they change depending on the different flowering times throughout the year. In addition to flowers and trees, ornamental gardens can also include other elements, such as rest areas or garden furniture and decorations.

English gardens. They cover larger areas, the dominant feature of which is a well-maintained English lawn, often combined with water bodies, a gazebo or other architectural elements. It mainly fulfills an aesthetic function. But they include both ornamental plants and common vegetables as well as fruit trees. The planting tends to be cascading and the gardens look cultivated.

French gardens. The French are elegant people who love simplicity, fresh flowers and herbs. And these are the gardens named after them. Simple, yet elegant, with stylish furniture, wheelbarrows or leaky watering cans planted with flowers and ubiquitous containers with herbs. Everything, even if it gives the impression of randomness to the point of carelessness, has its carefully chosen place in French gardens. Often there are also fountains, fountains and other water works.

Oriental gardens. In this type of garden, asymmetric and elegant accessories are intermingled. There should be lakes and streams, but also various houses, lanterns and other elements with an Asian theme.