When It’s Fall In The Garden Its’ Time To Get To Work
The temperatures are getting cooler and in the fall our area is normally drier. It seems time to let the garden wind down and let it naturally go into its inevitable dormancy. On most people’s lists around this time of year is buying pumpkins and mums to decorate our front doorstep. Not so fast! There are plenty of things to do in the fall to enhance your garden landscape next year.
Bulbs
Now is the perfect time to select and start planting spring flowering bulbs so you’ll get an early pop of color in early March through April and into May. Daffodils, Tulips and Crocus are just some of the bulbs you can start selecting and planting now. If you are planting fall containers at your front doorstep or in your garden don’t forget to plant bulbs under your pansies and mums. You will automatically extend the life of your container from fall into spring!
Shrubs and Trees
The best time to plant shrubs and trees is in the fall. So give your foundational plants a look and see if there is anything you would like to add or maybe eliminate. Has a shrub outgrown its space? Remove the shrub now and find a better candidate to replace it. By making this change now it will give them a chance to get established and build a root system before the warmer temperatures come in the spring and summer. Make sure you choose the right selection for the site depending on the space and light requirements. For instance, Dogwood trees are considered to be understory trees and they like a bit of shade. Planting one in a front yard by itself will affect its growth and put unnecessary stress on the tree. Another great idea is to research native shrubs and trees to add to your garden. These types of plants are well suited to our soil and drought tolerant in most cases. They will compliment our native bees and pollinators and give food to our native birds. A great example is the Beautyberry Shrub. It provides a beautiful show of berries in the fall that would compliment any garden and local birds will use it for food. Native trees are hosts to numbers of native moths and butterflies which also provide a food source for birds.
Saving plants for next year
In our area there are certain plants that aren’t hardy enough to make the transition to winter. Plants like Elephant Ears, Caladiums, and some Cannas may need to be lifted and stored for next year. When you dig them up make sure to let the stalk or plant completely die and then cut it back before you store them. Or you can simply transfer it to a pot and store in your garage. Even geraniums can be stored in your garage in the winter by watering once a month or by removing completely from the soil and putting it in an open paper bag for the winter.
Seeding Your Lawn
The best time to seed your lawn is in the fall. Grass also has a much better chance of establishing a root system in the fall and winter so when it reemerges in the spring it will be much fuller and ready to withstand the spring and summer. Over seeding your lawn is also a great way to use less chemicals by giving weeds less of a chance to get established or even have a place to grow because your grass will be so dense.
Don’t be too tidy in the garden
Most of us are ready to clean up all the dead plant material and rake up all the leaves before the deep chill of winter makes it unpleasant to be outside. While getting rid of diseased plants and leaves is always a good idea, it’s also a good practice to remember that local wildlife can benefit from dried seed heads. In the late fall and early winter food for birds becomes more scarce but seed heads and berries provide them a chance at more food. By mulching leaves and putting them back into your garden beds you are benefitting worms, overwintering moths and other wildlife by giving them cover. You are also giving birds a food source by giving worms a place to live. All these things form a symbiotic relationship to benefit the garden.
Journal your successes and failures
Now is a good time to put pen to paper and write a list of the good, the bad and maybe the ugly. Were Japanese beetles your nemesis this year? What plant do you want more of next year? Which vegetable varieties did well for your? What do you want to try next year? All these notes will help you in a couple of months when the seed catalogues come and you are dreaming of your next garden. They can also help you to look for help in battling diseases and pests. Have questions? Don’t forget to contact your UT extensive office at 423-728-7001.