Build Necessary Garden Infrastructure 

The winter months can also be a great time to improve your garden “infrastructure” so that once spring comes, you will have everything in place to get your plants into the soil. Some potential garden infrastructure options that you can work on during winter include:

Three-bin Composting Systems

These simple systems, when used correctly, will give gardeners a steady supply of nutrient-rich compost that gardeners can apply throughout your garden. The idea is to “turn” the fertilizer into separate bins as it reaches different decomposition stages. The first bin is for fresh kitchen scraps, fallen leaves, and other organic material. Once the mixture heats up and begins to decompose, you should pass it to the second bin, where millions of microorganisms work around the clock to turn the organic material into fertile humus. The third bin is where the compost is “aged” before applying to garden beds.

Raised Beds, Keyhole Beds, and Hugelkulturs

If you are still planting your garden directly into the soil in a typical row garden, now might be the time to consider shifting to a more intensive growing system. Raised beds are a simple way to give your plants loose and nutrient-rich soil to apply compost throughout the year. Wooden planks, bricks, or stone are the most common materials used for building raised beds. Keyhole beds are similar to raised beds but incorporate a unique design so that gardeners can be surrounded by produce without having to step on the delicate soil. This design reduces the risk of soil compaction while also maximizing the growing area in small yards. Hugelkultur beds are growing “mounds” that incorporate logs and other woody debris underneath the soil. Because woody, vegetative material decomposes gradually, it provides a slow-release fertilizer while also heating the growing bed through the natural decomposition process. Hugelkultur beds not only create a thriving habitat for soil life but can also extend your growing season through naturally heating the soil in your beds.

Protect Your Orchard Trees

The winter months are a great time to stay active in small fruit and nut orchards. Since your fruit trees' bark can quickly become rabbit food, you should consider installing trunk guards. If deer are a problem, you can protect younger trees from browsing simple hardware fencing around each tree. Many fruit and nut trees also respond well to winter pruning so that come spring, your trees will fill out with beautiful flowers.

While you might not be able to grow tomatoes and peppers in January successfully, gardeners can still stay busy during winter with the suggestions outlined above.