How to Prepare Your Garden for the Chicago Winter

Winter is just around the corner, but that doesn’t mean your gardening season is over. By taking a few steps to winterize your garden, you can ensure that your plants and soil are ready for Chicago’s harsh, cold conditions. Proper preparation will help your garden thrive in the next growing season. It’s essential to protect your vegetables, herbs, trees, and shrubs during the winter.

Here are our top tips to help you decide what to clean up, what to leave, and how to prepare your garden for a Chicago winter.

1. Harvesting Vegetables Before the First Frost

Before the first frost hits, be sure to harvest any tender vegetables, such as tomatoes, zucchini, and pumpkins. These plants are vulnerable to cold temperatures and should be pulled up and stored inside. It’s also wise not to leave diseased plants and their leaves in your garden. Fungus and insect eggs can overwinter, so you should either discard them or move them away from your main garden areas.

Hardy vegetables like kale, brussels sprouts, and carrots can stay in the ground for some time, but we recommend harvesting them before the ground becomes too frozen for digging.

2. Preparing Your Herbs for Winter

Certain herbs can withstand the winter cold, while others will need extra protection in Chicago’s zone 6a climate. Hardy herbs like thyme and sage will likely survive the cold without much intervention. Tender herbs like rosemary should be brought indoors. This solution is more practical than relying on frost cloth.

3. Prune and Care for Berry Plants before the Chicago Winter

For your berry bushes, such as raspberries and strawberries, you must prune them before the first frost. Pruning summer-bearing raspberries to leave six of the most vigorous canes will ensure you have a healthy crop next season. Mulch strawberry beds to protect them from the cold and apply a layer of pine straw or leaves around blueberries to protect their roots during freezing conditions. As a general rule, prune only after fruit-bearing seasons to help the plants stay healthy through the winter.

4. Winterizing Your Roses

Roses require extra attention before Chicago’s harsh winter arrives to make sure they survive the cold. Start by pruning back any dead or diseased canes and applying protective mulch around the base. Follow these winter garden prep guidelines to keep your roses healthy through the winter months:

• Prune dead or diseased canes to reduce the risk of disease and damage.
• Avoid fertilizing your roses as the cold weather approaches to prevent encouraging new growth.
• Apply mulch around the base of your rose bushes after the first frost to insulate the root zone.
• Enclose low-growing varieties with a wireframe and fill them with mulch to protect them from frost damage in areas with harsh winter weather.

5. Maintain Garden Tools for Winter

Before you store your tools for the Chicago winter months, take time to clean and oil them to prevent rust. Wipe down handles, sharpen blades, and apply a protective coat of oil to keep your gardening tools in top shape. If you have any power equipment, such as lawnmowers, be sure to drain the fuel tank and follow the manufacturer’s winterization instructions to ensure everything is ready for use in the spring.

6. Caring for Your Lawn Before the First Frost

If you haven’t already, mow your lawn one last time before the first frost. Keeping your grass at a reasonable length (around 2.5 inches) can help it survive the winter without developing brown patches. Make sure to remove fallen leaves and litter from your lawn to prevent mold and fungal diseases from taking hold. Consider applying a winter fertilizer to give your lawn a boost before the cold weather sets in.

7. General Garden Maintenance Tips for Winter

Make sure to empty all outdoor containers made of ceramic or clay. Chicago’s freezing temperatures can cause them to crack. Store them upside down to prevent water from pooling inside. Also, check your irrigation system to ensure it is completely drained and disconnected. This will help protect your hoses and spigots from cracking during the winter months.

8. Prepare Your Garden for the Next Growing Season

Winter is the perfect time to start planning for next season. If you’re looking to plant a new garden bed in the spring, prepare the area by covering it with mulch or plastic. This will help keep weeds at bay and prepare the soil for planting.

As you prep your garden for the winter, take note of areas that may need improvement in the coming months. Preparing your garden now will ensure you’re ready to start your next growing season as soon as the ground thaws.

Get Expert Help from Bruss Landscaping

For effective advice on all things landscaping, contact Bruss Landscaping in Wheaton, IL. We’re an award-winning landscaping business that knows everything about landscape design, hardscapes, maintenance, seasonal planters, and more.

Learn more about Bruss Landscaping on our About page. If you’re interested in transforming your outdoor space into something that’ll impress visitors, schedule a consultation today.