Winter is coming…! For the miniature gardeners that have an established garden, here are a few tips to keep in mind as Old Man Winter approaches. Some of these tips are similar to the full-sized garden chores and others are specific to the hobby as we’ve shrunken the mini garden rules to miniature.
Recovering Your Ground Covers
If you’re new to the hobby and asking yourself, “Ground covers? I thought we were talking about miniature gardening?” In our way of gardening, we use small-leafed ground covers as “miniature garden bedding plants” to help us create layers in the mini beds – just like in a full-sized garden design. The miniature and dwarf trees and shrubs make-up the middle and top layers, and the ground covers are the middle and lower layers, to create a wall of plants to set the stage for the mini garden scene.
TIP: After a couple of years of growing ground covers they will start to – you know it – cover the ground. Remember the rule of thumb, “the first year they sleep, the second year they creep and the third year they leap” so we want to stay on top of them when they get established, especially during the transition seasons like spring and fall. Pinch them back from your paths and patios. Pluck them gently out your shrubs and perennials if the are growing over and through them. Scoop them out from under your shrubs to let air get through or they will suffocate the plant.
Air-Out Your Roots
Roots need air too. This is why you see the roots of big trees coming up through the lawn, sidewalks and your driveway – they are looking for air. In the miniature garden, after a couple/few years in a pot, the roots will need your help getting some air to them to keep the plants happy.
TIP: Get a garden fork and mix-up the soil on the top of the garden, wether it’s in a pot or in-ground. Breaking up any crunchy soil to redirect the water to the plant’s roots. Use a bamboo stick, the end of a metal garden stake or anything that you can stick into the soil at least a foot down. Poke the soil around the plants to aerate it. This will allow air and water to get into the middle of the pot.
Don’t Leave the Leaves
In the full-sized garden, we usually leave the leaves in the garden beds because they help feed the soil as they decompose. In a miniature garden, fallen leaves can not only distort the realism and scale, but they can also block light and air and turn foliage yellow.
TIP: Remove any fallen leaves from all plants. Get them out of your dwarf and miniature trees and shrubs. Clean them up from your miniature patios and beds so you can keep enjoying your little scene – and you might get a photo-opportunity that you’ll be glad you prepped for when you get your first snow, for example.
Don’t Blame it on the Rain
A LOT of people don’t think of watering the garden if it’s raining out but you would be surprised at how much the rain does NOT water enough of the garden. The next time it does rain, go out and stick your finger down into the soil of your miniature garden and you’ll see that it doesn’t moisten the soil deep-down, where the plant’s roots are.
TIP: Don’t rely on the rain to water your plants! Unless it’s a long, soaking rain or a torrential downpour, the rain may not be getting to the roots of the plants. The easiest way is to stick your finger down into the soil at least 1″ deep to check to see if the rain was enough – if not – water!
Learn From Your Mistakes
A new music student can’t sit down and play Mozart perfectly. You can’t learn to bake without burning something and neither can you learn to knit without dropping a stitch. Learning takes time and practice so go easy on yourself if something didn’t make it through the season.
TIP: Even the best gardeners will lose a plant sometimes, they just don’t tell you they did. If you can, try to figure out why that plant died. Lack of water? Not enough space? Too much hot sun? Too much shade? You can either look for a tougher plant that can handle more sun/dry conditions/etc. OR, focus on what plants did work and look for more plants with the same horticultural requirements. Got a question? Ask below in the comments!
Bonus Tip!
*Keep watering right up to the freeze – if you are in an area that freezes, that is. If you’ve chosen the “right plant for the right place” and have plants that are hardy to your area, when the frigid temps come, the roots should be frozen, not freeze-dried. You may have to water periodically throughout the winter too, if you are in an area that is freezes for the winter so make sure you check on your planters and containers periodically. In-ground miniature gardens should be fine, just leave the snow on it for insulation.
Got a question about your miniature garden? Ask below in the comments!
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