Judi Lloyd: Winter is no time to forget about your garden

This is my last article of 2014 regarding caring for your garden. Im listing some tasks that should be taken care of over the winter.

Trees and shrubs: Keep leaves raked off lawn and around shrubs as they can create a hiding place for pests.

Lawns and ornamental plantings: Over-seeding with annual rye grass may make for a green lawn over the winter, but it is harmful to lawns, especially centipede. Clean and winterize your mower for the season. Drain gasoline or add a fuel stabilizer.

Flowers: Plant spring flowering bulbs between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And, dont forget the Master Gardener bulb sale at the Farmers Market! A 2-3 inch blanket of mulch will protect overwintering perennials and help minimize weeds. Label plants with durable markers and consider mapping flower beds as backup.

Vegetables: Hungry for fresh greens? Start a micro-greens garden on your window sill. Sow micro-green seed mixes in shallow trays of potting soil and harvest when seedlings are 3-4 inches tall. You can start a new crop each week to continue getting your salad all winter. The average crop-time for most micro-greens is 7-10 days from seeding to harvest. Kale, cabbage and collards are the hardiest crops. You can continue to harvest them throughout the winter. Carrots can be left in the ground and harvested as needed. Im even trying some out on my back deck in pots this year. If temperatures are expected to dip in the mid-20s, cover lettuce, broccoli, spinach and beets to prevent cold injury.

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Judi Lloyd: Winter is no time to forget about your garden