Batten down the hatches! Winter will be here soon!
Planting Beds
Perennials
With bulb plantings, the rule of thumb is “the sooner the better”; especially for availability of certain varieties, as well as getting them in the ground well in advance before winter begins. Bulbs should also be divided if needed, as well as overgrown or crowded perennials, replanting and amending them with compost to ensure proper growth and fertilization. Dig, clean, and store tuberous begonias if frost threatens. For spring blooms plant daffodils, tulips, and crocuses now. Remember that the size of the bulb is directly correlated to the size of the flower yet to come in spring.
Annuals
If your landscape lacks variety throughout winter you may need an ‘annual flower treatment’. By planting a new crop of pansies (Winter Pansies) this adds fresh color to your landscape or container gardens.
Mulching
During the fall/winter months it is just as important to mulch as it is in the summer. Fall mulching protects your garden from frost, thaws, and harsh winds. From newly planted or transplanted perennials to established trees and shrubs, mulch holds warmth in the soil longer, giving the plants more time to get established and protecting them in the winter. Remember, with mulch you are trying to protect the roots, especially the more delicate tip roots, which are at the underground perimeter of the plant. Never place mulch up against the trunk of trees or shrubs, and never apply more than 2-3" of mulch.
Leaf Mulching
Fall leaves make excellent mulch. Running over the leaves with a lawn mower will shred them into a more workable consistency and enable them to break down quickly. Leaves left intact may need to be removed in spring, as a nice little layer of leaves makes a great hiding place for slugs.
Lawn Care
Seeding
While the soil is still warm it is a great time to seed a new lawn in advance of the fall rains that will aid germination. Shorter days mean slower top growth, allowing plants to store more nutrients and be in optimum condition for good, healthy growth next spring.
Fertilizing
It's still okay to give existing lawns one last feed before winter. Using a granular, slow-release fertilizer will make the nutrients readily available to the grass when spring arrives and the demand is high. Apply 1 lb. of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. To reduce risks of run-off into local waterways do not fertilize prior to rainfall.
Maintain
As the top growth slows and leaves begin to fall, mow the lawn at a shorter height than the rest of the year. Mulching the lawn by not bagging the clippings will add additional nutrients to the lawn and is highly recommended. Optimal times for establishing a new lawn is August through mid-September. Late summer and early fall are good times to aerate your lawn allowing oxygen and fertilizer to permeate the root system.
General Tips
Ponds
Cover ponds with bird- or other type of netting to catch leaf drop from nearby trees; this will make leaf removal much easier to clean.
Pests
Dampwood termites begin flying late this month, Make sure you home is free of wet wood or places where wood and soil are in contact. To suppress European crane fly populations you should stop irrigating your lawn after Labor Day, as a rule-of-thumb.
Pruning
Most common trees and shrubs should have only minimal pruning done to prevent damage and breakage. Dead or diseased wood should be pruned during any season.
Roses
If your rose blooms into the fall, it is okay to feed it one last time with a granular, slow-release fertilizer. By being slow-release, it ensures that the plants have the right nutrients as they go into dormancy, and will have food readily available when they reawaken in spring. Also, leave the hips on those roses; they are an important signal for the plant to go into dormancy. Afterward, they are a good source of food for birds. Roses can be pruned lightly in the fall before frost. In late winter, cut out the dead and diseased canes and remove one or two of the oldest canes at ground level to make room for new vigorous canes.
