How to care for the soil in winter: tips for summer residents

In winter, summer residents often leave the site unattended, but soil care during this period is no less important than in the warmer months. Preparing the soil for winter allows you to preserve its structure, improve its nutritional properties and prepare it for the spring season. Useful tips on caring for the soil in winter can be found in the Izvestia article.

Cleaning of plant residues

Before the onset of cold weather, it is important to remove all plant residues from the beds. Rotted stems and leaves can become a source of diseases and pests, so they should be collected and disposed of. Abandoned plants often create a shelter for various insects, which can lead to soil contamination in the next season. Do not forget about removing weeds that continue to grow even in the cold season.

Digging up the soil

In most regions of the country, the soil freezes in winter, which makes digging possible only in late autumn or early spring. Digging helps to improve soil aeration and defrost clumps of earth. It is important to carry out this procedure before snow appears on the site, so that the earth has time to "breathe" and not turn sour. If you haven't had time to dig up the site in the fall, you can do it in the spring as soon as the snow melts.

Mulching

Mulch is a great way to protect the soil from freezing in winter. Mulching retains heat, regulates humidity levels and protects the root system of plants. Fallen leaves, hay, straw, peat or sawdust can be used for mulching. Mulch not only protects the soil, but also enriches it with organic substances that decompose during wintering.

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Preparation and protection of perennials

It is recommended to use shelters to protect perennial plants and shrubs. This will protect the root system from freezing. To do this, you can use lapnik, agrofibre or even old sheets. Mulching will also help plants survive the winter in good condition.

Fertilizers in autumn

In autumn, the soil can be additionally fertilized. Using organic fertilizers such as compost or humus will improve the soil structure and enrich it with nutrients. Mineral fertilizers are best applied to the ground in autumn so that they can dissolve and become available to plants in the spring.

Erosion protection

In winter, weathering of the topsoil often occurs, especially if the site is located on a slope. To prevent soil erosion, siderates can be planted, which strengthen the soil and help prevent it from leaching out. Plants such as rye, oats or mustard have proven themselves well. These plants not only strengthen the soil, but also enrich it with nitrogen.

Protection from snow

In some cases, at the cottage, you need to make sure that the snow does not cover all the plants too high. Excessive snow can cause tree branches to break or damage plants. This is especially true for shrubs and trees with thin and fragile branches. Regularly remove excess snow from plants, especially if heavy snowfalls are expected.

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