How to Winterize an Ornamental Garden

Mitch Baker: I am Mitch Baker with American Plant Bethesda, Maryland. And today I will be showing you how to winterize your ornamental garden. The time you spend in your garden this fall can make a big difference in how well your garden performs next spring. So we will cover everything from what to do of all these leaves that are falling, from mulching, pruning, fertilizing, watering, transplanting, bringing in your houseplants and finally, planting fall bulbs. So some things you will need to do all of these chores in the garden include a pair of gloves, a good pair of pruning shears, a composted soil amendment, a low- fertility organic fertilizer and maybe a watering wand. And some safety issues, keep in mind you are working with a sharp blade so keep your gloves on at all times and if you are going to be doing pruning, working in and around trees and shrubs, it might be a good idea to wear some safety glasses as well. First, let me tell you a bit about myself, I am a Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturist, with 32 years of experience in the garden center industry. I serve on the board of the Rachel Carson Council and I am an avid gardener. We have got a lot of work to do so lets us get started, winterizing our ornamental garden.