Getting Gardens Ready For Cool Weather (NAPSA)—Cold weather doesn't have to mean the end of your garden. In fact, the mercury dipping below freezing can be a good excuse to use your garden in different ways. For instance, many people dry their garden herbs and use them in cooking or to make flavored vinegars. Others bring some favorite plants inside and enjoy their gardens year-round. However you use your garden, following a few tips can help flowers, shrubs and even vegetables survive whatever Mother Nature throwstheir way. * Come In From The Cold— Gardens should be moved indoors when the temperature starts averaging about 40 degrees at night. While this may sound complicated, moving a garden could be easier than you might think. First, use a hand shovel to remove plants from the earth. Place each plant with soil inside a pot. Then use a rake to spread straw around the empty garden to help protect it from the elements. Try using a wheelbarrow to bring potted plants inside. * Winterizing Is Wise—Not all plants can be safely moved indoors, so it’s important to learn the basics of outdoor winterizing. Start by using fallen leaves to make a compost pile for the plants as soon as the mercury drops to 40 degrees. This can help keep them moist and warm. Union Tools makes a Wet N Dry Rake that can be helpful in ME The right tools can makeit easier to winterize a garden. dry or damp weather. The company also makes a Stow N Go Wheelbarrow that’s lightweight and can help with the winterizing process. * Protecting Herb Gardens— Herb gardens generally can’t survive temperatures below 382 degrees. Instead of leaving herbs out in the elements, try drying them in an airtight container away from sunlight or hanging them upside down in a cool, dry room. You can also pick fresh herbs, then chop them up and freeze them in baggies. The herbs can be used in the kitchen to spice up salads, vinegars and sauces or to add kick to some classic cold-weather recipes. They can even be used to makepotpourri. For more information, visit www.uniontools.com.
