15: Winter in the Garden: What We Prioritize for a Healthier, Happier Spring Garden

It's early January. The days are short, it's cold, and there's often a desire to close the door on the garden until spring. But winter isn't a season to hide from. It's a season to work with on your terms, at your pace, and with intention. The time you spend now makes everything easier come spring. It makes your garden healthier and more beautiful. And even just getting out there for a little bit each day can be enjoyable and beneficial. In this episode, Stevie joins me to talk about what we're focusing on in our client gardens this winter. We talk about how strange this season has been because it's warm, things are blooming and popping up when they shouldn't be, and we're pausing on important dormant pruning work until plants actually go fully dormant. We discuss what we're prioritizing right now, our favorite winter projects, and what makes this season worth embracing. In this episode, we cover: What we love about winter in the garden, and why small intentional work now can lead to a less overwhelming spring Why winter in the Seattle region is so different this year, and how it impacts the work we're doing in client gardens Why we love dormant winter pruning, and why pruning techniques like espalier and pleaching feel like long-form sculpture The joy of seed shopping and seed swaps, and the hope that planning for the future brings when it's cold and rainy in January Why winter is the perfect time to add bare root trees to your garden and a low-stakes way to learn something new Resources Pruning with Confidence YouTube Playlist Episode 5: How to Choose the Right Tree for Your Garden Free Winter Gardening Guide Free Winter Pruning Guide Seattle Tilth Seed Swap Raintree Nursery Connect with Us Relish Gardens Website Follow us on Instagram Follow us on YouTube Until next time, I hope you find something in your garden to truly relish.