Welcome to Minnesota’s dormant season. Leaves have fallen from our deciduous trees, carpeting the ground in shades of dull browns. The stalks and stems of native flowers and grasses have dried out, their energy reserves moving into roots below ground. Though all is quiet in the garden, native plants are still doing work to support ecosystems — providing shelter for insects, feeding birds with their seeds, and stabilizing soil with their roots.
Winter also invites us humans to enter a state of relative dormancy. Perhaps you are spending more time indoors, in introspection or connecting with your loved ones. As you care for yourself and others this solstice season, we want to share some tips for helping your outdoor plantings make it through the winter while supporting wildlife and water.
Rain Gardens
- Raingardens can get “lost” in the snow. Mark the boundaries of your garden with small flags or stakes to ensure that snow plows and shovels don’t cause damage.
- Do not plow or shovel snow into your rain garden. Excess snowpack on your garden can compact the soil and reduce its ability to soak up water.
- Keep de-icing salt from sidewalks and roads out of the rain garden area. Excessive accumulation of salt in rain gardens can be toxic to your plants.
Rain Barrels
- Don’t forget to disconnect your rain barrel this winter! Empty your rain barrel, remove the diverter and hose, and store upside down. Keep the spigot open so that any remaining water can drain out.
- Check for cracks or damage before storing your rain barrel. You can also cover your rain barrel with a tarp during storage to prevent water from pooling on it.
Trees and Shrubs
- Protect your tree from hungry herbivores. You can wrap your tree with a plastic
guard. (A white or light-colored guard minimizes sun damage). Or, surround your trees with mesh fencing (about 6 inches from the tree). - Tree roots take longer to go dormant, so are more susceptible to cold damage. Protect your tree roots by adding a 3-4-inch-thick ring of mulch around the tree, about 6 inches from the trunk base. Keep watering your tree until the ground freezes.
- Late winter is a good time for pruning your tree or shrub if needed. Trimming branches can prevent the tree from being weighed down by excess snow. For pruning tips, check out the UMN Extension’s page.
Pollinator Plantings
- Leave fallen leaves in your garden bed. They will act as a natural mulch, insulating the soil, protecting plant roots, and providing habitat for insects.
- Leave stems standing. Many native bees overwinter in the cavities of plant stems. Cut back stems in spring instead of fall to avoid disturbing them.
- Keep seedheads standing as well! They add interest and beauty to a home landscape, and birds will appreciate the snack.
- If you have any brush piles or logs in your space, let them be. They can serve as overwintering spots for cavity-nesting bees and other beneficial insects.
Snow Management
- Limit your use of de-icing salts. Just one teaspoon of salt permanently pollutes five gallons of water, affecting freshwater wildlife, plant health, and groundwater resources. Try these strategies instead:
- Shovel early and often when it snows. Clear walkways before snow turns to ice. Ice scrapers are a helpful tool once things get icy!
- Use alternatives to salt. Sand and chicken grit create traction and are more effective in cold weather. (Salt doesn’t melt ice below 15 degrees F.) Use salt only where critical. Aim for 3 inches of space between salt granules.
- Sweep when done. Clean up leftover salt and sand to save and reuse as needed.
- Monitor where slippery spots tend to form on your property. These might be areas where a stormwater diversion solution like a downspout extension, rain chain, or rain garden can help!
By integrating these winter care practices into your landscape, you support native plants in their year-round work to protect waterways and support wildlife. And like our native perennials, you deserve to take some time to rest, too!
When you’re ready to start dreaming up pollinator and water-friendly plans for the next growing season, we’ll be here! Our Plan a Project resources and Plant Finder tool are great ways to get started, and we’re excited to share a new suite of workshops with you this coming spring.
– Megan Reich, Metro Blooms Communications and Program Manager