Gardening Tips And Information - Gardening Chores For the Fall
As colder temperatures and shorter days prevail, gardeners must think about getting their gardens set for winter. Below is a checklist of chores to consider for the maintenance of your perennial garden, vegetable garden, and lawn to keep all in healthy condition.
1. Cut back your perennials. How and when you do this is determined by the individual needs of your plants, your desire to provide food and cover for wildlife, and your appreciation for winter interest in your yard. If you prefer your property having a neat appearance then, cutting back your perennials to the ground is the way to go, but if you would like to leave nesting areas for insects, seeds and berries for wildlife to survive on through the winter, and if you enjoy some stems and structural interest left standing through out the winter, then trim and cut back to different heights as you see fit and aesthetically pleasing. Plants that have had a disease or did not do well should be removed and any vigorous re-seeders that can take over perennial beds should also be removed or split and transplanted. Avoid cutting back to the ground hardy mums, asters and ferns. The old foliage of these helps to protect their crowns through winter. Leave several inches of stem standing so that they can be easily identified in spring so when you plant something else in the you will know where they are and won't accidentally disturb them. The timing of cutting plants back for winter is important, too. In general, later is better.
2. To provide compost for next year's garden, save fall lawn cuttings and leaves and place them in a compost container.
3. In the vegetable garden, harvest all the vegetables still left before frost hits. Remove any dead or spoiled ones and if disease is apparent, destroy them to reduce any chances of infestation. Take inventory, noting the variety of any well performing vegetables or annuals for next year.
4. Bulbs for additional spring and summer color should be planted in the fall. If there are tender bulbs in your garden, carefully lift them out and store these bulbs in an airy, dry, and protected area for the winter. Canna Lilies, Elephant Ears and Dahlias can all be overwintered by this method. Salvias and Geraniums can be treated as houseplants or brought into a bright cool porch to overwinter.
5. Add mulch to your perennials to keep them warm and protected over the winter. Mulch will also helps store moisture in the soil. DO NOT however bury the crown too deeply beneath mulch or they will have a hard time emerging in spring. You can also add manure and compost in the fall, which is the best time to do this giving plenty of time for breakdown to happen.
6. Houseplants that were growing outside should make their way back inside. To avoid shock, do this gradually placing them in partly shaded areas outside first. And always bring them in before the first frost, of course.
7. Prepare rose bushes for winter. Prune dead or damaged branches and cut off any old flowers. Using topsoil or mulch, mound the bush and cut canes back to six to twelve inches. To completely protect the bush, you can then cover it using a bushel basket, if the size is appropriate.
8. Treat broad leaf evergreens such as Rhododendron, Cherry Laurel, Boxwood and Holly with an anti-desiccant like Wilt-Pruf and water them thoroughly before the ground freezes. This will help to prevent winter-burn. Be aware of the snow load that accumulates on these and other evergreen over the winter. Remove snow when necessary to prevent damage to their branches.
9. Lawns could use preparing now for next spring. To allow the soil to drain better and give the roots much needed oxygen, aerate and thatch if the soil is compacted. Seeding and fertilizing can be done now as well.
10. Clean up all of your gardening tools. Pruning tools, mower blades, and shears can be sharpened and oiled now. This way they will avoid rusting over the winter and will be all ready for you come spring. Cover or bring in outdoor furniture and accesories. Unplug appliances and drain the waterline of any outdoor sinks or showers.
11. If you have a fountain, to avoid freezing, you must drain it. Also wrap or turn over any other porous (concrete, ceramic and Terra-cotta) pots and statuary. Chances are slim that potted evergreens will survive the winter outdoors. Treat them as annuals or decorate with cut greens instead.
By: Dayelle I Swensson (with a few locally relevant updates added by Sharon A. Shaw)
Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care and keeping your home garden looking good and healthy
As colder temperatures and shorter days prevail, gardeners must think about getting their gardens set for winter. Below is a checklist of chores to consider for the maintenance of your perennial garden, vegetable garden, and lawn to keep all in healthy condition.
1. Cut back your perennials. How and when you do this is determined by the individual needs of your plants, your desire to provide food and cover for wildlife, and your appreciation for winter interest in your yard. If you prefer your property having a neat appearance then, cutting back your perennials to the ground is the way to go, but if you would like to leave nesting areas for insects, seeds and berries for wildlife to survive on through the winter, and if you enjoy some stems and structural interest left standing through out the winter, then trim and cut back to different heights as you see fit and aesthetically pleasing. Plants that have had a disease or did not do well should be removed and any vigorous re-seeders that can take over perennial beds should also be removed or split and transplanted. Avoid cutting back to the ground hardy mums, asters and ferns. The old foliage of these helps to protect their crowns through winter. Leave several inches of stem standing so that they can be easily identified in spring so when you plant something else in the you will know where they are and won't accidentally disturb them. The timing of cutting plants back for winter is important, too. In general, later is better.
2. To provide compost for next year's garden, save fall lawn cuttings and leaves and place them in a compost container.
3. In the vegetable garden, harvest all the vegetables still left before frost hits. Remove any dead or spoiled ones and if disease is apparent, destroy them to reduce any chances of infestation. Take inventory, noting the variety of any well performing vegetables or annuals for next year.
4. Bulbs for additional spring and summer color should be planted in the fall. If there are tender bulbs in your garden, carefully lift them out and store these bulbs in an airy, dry, and protected area for the winter. Canna Lilies, Elephant Ears and Dahlias can all be overwintered by this method. Salvias and Geraniums can be treated as houseplants or brought into a bright cool porch to overwinter.
5. Add mulch to your perennials to keep them warm and protected over the winter. Mulch will also helps store moisture in the soil. DO NOT however bury the crown too deeply beneath mulch or they will have a hard time emerging in spring. You can also add manure and compost in the fall, which is the best time to do this giving plenty of time for breakdown to happen.
6. Houseplants that were growing outside should make their way back inside. To avoid shock, do this gradually placing them in partly shaded areas outside first. And always bring them in before the first frost, of course.
7. Prepare rose bushes for winter. Prune dead or damaged branches and cut off any old flowers. Using topsoil or mulch, mound the bush and cut canes back to six to twelve inches. To completely protect the bush, you can then cover it using a bushel basket, if the size is appropriate.
8. Treat broad leaf evergreens such as Rhododendron, Cherry Laurel, Boxwood and Holly with an anti-desiccant like Wilt-Pruf and water them thoroughly before the ground freezes. This will help to prevent winter-burn. Be aware of the snow load that accumulates on these and other evergreen over the winter. Remove snow when necessary to prevent damage to their branches.
9. Lawns could use preparing now for next spring. To allow the soil to drain better and give the roots much needed oxygen, aerate and thatch if the soil is compacted. Seeding and fertilizing can be done now as well.
10. Clean up all of your gardening tools. Pruning tools, mower blades, and shears can be sharpened and oiled now. This way they will avoid rusting over the winter and will be all ready for you come spring. Cover or bring in outdoor furniture and accesories. Unplug appliances and drain the waterline of any outdoor sinks or showers.
11. If you have a fountain, to avoid freezing, you must drain it. Also wrap or turn over any other porous (concrete, ceramic and Terra-cotta) pots and statuary. Chances are slim that potted evergreens will survive the winter outdoors. Treat them as annuals or decorate with cut greens instead.
By: Dayelle I Swensson (with a few locally relevant updates added by Sharon A. Shaw)
Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care and keeping your home garden looking good and healthy
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