We’re not here to tell you to stop dreaming of your garden in the winter months, but we do have some advice for when it’s practical to put that planning into action.
Lawn care in Utah can be a little tricky; we’ll get heavy snow in December, and then be faced with balmy Januarys with 40-degree temperatures. While it’s tempting to start digging up the dirt at the first thaw, it’s best to wait if you want to see a more fruitful harvest.
It Depends on the Plants
If you’re a seasoned gardener, then you probably know that some plants need to go in the ground in the fall, while others can wait until spring. So, depending on the plants you prefer, you may find yourself planning your garden mid-summer or mid-winter. At Lawngevity, our suggestion is to start planning your garden as soon as a growing season ends, whether it’s in late spring or late summer. This not only helps you stay aligned with seasonal planting, but it can add a boost to your mood if you’re mourning the end of your current garden.
Keep Winter Blues at Bay
When your yard is tucked under a blanket of snow, it’s the perfect time to dream up colorful and fruitful spring and summer garden plans. If you can’t get your hands in the dirt, get them into catalogs.
Post-Mortem
During the winter, review what you previously had in your garden. Which plants thrived, and which ones flopped? Do you need to switch up your plants in order to reintroduce nutrients into your soil? Over winter, get into the nitty-gritty of mapping out your spring garden, and be sure to order seeds sooner rather than later. There’s nothing worse than seeds or starts arriving late! It’s usually easier to tend to starts indoors until the ground thaws but, unless you have an outdoor greenhouse, it can be difficult to force a longer growing season if your seeds arrive late.
What to Plant in Fall
When you’re cleaning up your summer garden, be sure to put new life into the ground while removing the old. If you look forward to the first blooms of spring each year, get ahead of the season by planning your spring rewards in late summer. Daffodils, crocus, and other early-bloomers need to be planted in the fall so they can flower at the first sign of spring.
Including some of the following as part of your fall lawn care in Utah can ensure you are greeted by color when the snow melts.
- Allium
- Hosta
- Hyacinth
- Pansies
- Trees
- Tulips
- Turf Grass
These perennials go dormant through the winter, so as long as you offer them ample mulch or ground cover they’ll happily hibernate until spring.
Plan for Fall Once Spring has Sprung
After you get your fall bulbs in the ground, you can turn your attention to what you’ve dreamed up for spring. While you’re tiptoeing through the tulips, you should already know what will go into your garden soon to yield summer and fall harvests.
What to Plant in the Spring
In Utah, we experience a variety of hardiness zones. In central and northern parts of the state, we see zone 4a, whereas in the south it’s zone 9a. Our lawn care programs cater to the chillier, 4a zones, and we recommend planting the following in the spring:
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Early Potatoes
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Onions (garlic and shallots, too)
- Raddish
- Snow Peas
These veggies are hardy and can withstand chilly evening temperatures before summer is in full swing. As for ornamental plants, look for cold-hardy annuals or perennials such as:
- Begonias
- Coleus
- Geranium
- Lantana
- Rosemary
- Snapdragons
- Violas
Almanac.com has a helpful planting calendar for Utah gardens, sharing important guidelines for when to start seeds indoors, and when to plant outside. The chart is divided for both spring and fall planting so you know how to best plan your garden based on the plants you want to include.
It’s easy to get preoccupied with your garden, whether it’s the tasty veggies you’re focused on or the colorful flowers. Be sure you’re also planning your lawn care according to the weather. If you don’t want to spend your valuable time mowing, fertilizing, pruning, or taking care of pest control, consider hiring it out to professionals. We can take some of the yard work off your plate, allowing you to give priority to your garden.