Gardening Guide: 7 Ways To Keep Your Plants Healthy In Changing Seasons

Keeping plants healthy during changing seasons requires caution and adjustment. Changing weather conditions affect the soil, water content, and plant growth, and therefore need to be adjusted accordingly in gardening activities. Continue reading for seven expert-approved ways to keep healthy plants throughout the year.

7 ways to keep your Plants Healthy:

1. Adjust Watering Schedule Based on Weather

Seasonal watering requirements vary. Overwatering in winter causes root rot, while underwatering in summer causes dehydration.

Seasonal Watering Advice:

Water less frequently but deeply in winter to prevent waterlogged roots.

More frequent watering in summer, maintaining the plants' moisture on hot days.

Mulch to retain moisture in dry periods.

2. Modify Soil Nutrition & Fertilization

Different seasons have different requirements of nutrients in the soil. Plants require more nitrogen in the spring for growth and more potassium in autumn for hardiness.

Seasonal Fertilizer Chart:

Spring: Fertilize plants with nitrogenous fertilizer to give them leaf and stem growth.

Summer: Balance the fertilizers to keep them well watered and sturdy rooted.

Fall & Winter Fertilization: Apply potassium-based fertilizers to enhance cold hardiness.

3. Protect Plants from Temperature Extremes

Both frost and heat waves can inflict stress and injury upon plants. Precautionary actions can protect vulnerable species.

Protection Strategies:

Utilize shade cloth or plant umbrellas in summer.

Use frost blankets to shield vulnerable plants in winter.

As temperatures decrease, you'll want to place any container plants back indoors or in a covered area.

4. Seasonal Pruning & Maintenance

Pruning keeps plants healthy, while new growth allows continuous vigor in the next seasonal cycle. Pruning also removes excess/dead foliage that is taking up energy. It is important not to prune a plant too much.

When to Prune:

Spring & Summer: Dead-leaf pruning and give some shape to the plants

Fall: Light pruning that helps the plants prep to go dormant due to lower light levels

Winter: No heavy pruning, only to remove dead or weakened pieces, and preferably only sick or specifically weak portions.

5. Preventing Pests & Diseases During the Year

This is important because each season has new pest and disease cycles. For example, aphids and mite life cycles are encouraged in warm times, while fungal disease will show itself in the colder times of the year.

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Use organic pest repellent, neem oil and insecticidal soap, as holders of organic establishments

Encourage air circulation in plant spaces to discourage fungal growth.

Monitor plants regularly and remove infested pieces in edging immediacy

6. Rotation of Planting & Seasonal Growth Planning

Plants react surprisingly different in different seasonal condition. A good plan to rotate your plants and soil is a good practice to prevent depletion and gain maximum value from plants each season.

Seasonal Plant Rotation:

Grow your fall & winter cool-season crops like lettuce and kale.

Plant your spring & summer warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers.

Rotate your crops to prevent soil exhaustion and achieve better yields.

7. Mulch & Ground Cover for Protection

Mulch is fantastic at moderating soil temperature, conserving moisture, and suppressing weeds, but different mulches have different properties at different times of the year.

Mulching Best Practices

Using a thicker organic mulch, like straw or leaves, as an insulator in winter.

Apply lighter mulch, like grass clippings, in the summer to conserve moisture.

Keep continuous ground cover to protect roots in seasonal swings.

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