Late fall and early winter are the perfect times to refresh your fruit tree guilds and set your garden up for success in the seasons ahead. In this video, Beverly Welch, owner of The Arbor Gate, and Angela Chandler, her expert guest from the Garden Academy share their expert tips for revitalizing your garden beds with cold-hardy plants, organic fertilizers, and nitrogen fixers to promote soil health and vibrant growth. Watch the video below and get inspired to dig in!
Planting for Beauty and Functionality
Gardening isn’t just about looks—it’s about creating a sustainable, thriving ecosystem. Beverly and Angela walk through a selection of plants that add color, fragrance, and function to your fruit tree guilds. These plants work together to support soil health, attract pollinators, and repel pests naturally.
Cold-Hardy Flowers and Herbs for Color and Pollinators
- Calendula: A cheerful, bright bloomer that brings golden hues to dreary winter days. Its petals can even be used as a saffron substitute or in teas.
- Georgia Savory: A fragrant herb with lavender-colored tubular blooms that attract pollinators and add beauty year-round.
- Salad Burnet: A versatile herb with foliage that tastes like cucumber—perfect for salads and sandwiches. Its low-growing habit also suppresses weeds!
- Lobularia: Soft, fragrant flowers that thrive in cool weather and create a lush, delicate look in the garden.
- Petunia: Often thought of as a summer flower, petunias can thrive through winter if planted in the fall, offering lasting color and charm.
Practical Plants for Soil Health and Pest Control
- Daffodils: These cheerful blooms are more than just pretty—they’re deer-resistant and act as a natural pest repellent. Plant them along borders for extra protection.
- Comfrey: A multi-purpose plant that attracts pollinators, fixes nitrogen in the soil, and contributes biomass to improve soil texture and health.
- Sage: Hardy, fragrant, and pest-resistant, sage is a must-have herb that also brings pollinators into the garden.
Nitrogen Fixers and Soil Builders
- Fava Beans: These cool-season nitrogen fixers enrich the soil while providing attractive blooms and edible beans.
- Turnips: Easy to grow and excellent for improving soil structure, turnips also act as a cover crop to curb pathogens and add organic matter. Scatter seeds for a carefree planting approach that adds nutrients and biomass to your beds.
Why Now is the Perfect Time to Plant
Fall and winter planting focuses on building strong root systems and soil health, ensuring your garden is ready for the challenges of summer heat and drought. By using organic food and soil products—like The Arbor Gate’s 1-2-3 Completely Easy, Completely Organic System—you’ll provide essential nutrients without the risks of over-fertilization or nutrient “dumping.”
Organic fertilizers work with soil microbes to release nutrients slowly and naturally, promoting resilience and balanced growth. Paired with diverse plantings, your garden can thrive year-round while improving soil quality with each season.
Visit The Arbor Gate for Everything You Need!
Ready to transform your garden this season? Stop by The Arbor Gate in Tomball, TX, to pick up everything you need for fall and winter planting, including:
- Cold-hardy plants and herbs.
- Nitrogen fixers and cover crop seeds.
- Organic soil, food, and compost for healthier beds.
- Expert advice from gardeners who are here to help!
Location: 15635 Farm to Market 2920, Tomball, TX 77377
Call Us: (281) 351-8851
Don’t wait—fall and winter are your garden’s most important seasons for root growth and soil preparation. Stop by The Arbor Gate today and let us help you build a garden that’s ready to thrive in spring and beyond!
