Late Fall Garden Chores

We’ve seen some major fluctuations in the weather this week, from near-record temperatures Sunday and Monday to more seasonal weather mid-week. It’s a clear signal that now’s the time to get the lawn and garden ready for winter. Most of the leaves are off the trees, thanks to the winds early this week.  

It’s important to clean up any leaves remaining on the lawn, before winter.  Whole leaves and other debris will smother your grass through the course of the winter season, leaving dead patches to deal with in the spring. On the other hand, chopped up leaves become a valuable asset for your yard and garden.

 A simple way to deal with tree leaves is to use your lawn mower rather than your leaf rake. Put the catcher attachment on and run the mower over the yard several times.  That big pile of leaves will disappear quickly and you can take the chopped-up leaves out to the garden and spread them across the beds or use them as mulch for your perennials. Don’t worry if some of the finely chopped leaves remain on the lawn. These will work their way into the ground, adding important organic material to the soil your grass is growing in. Tree leaves need to be working to improve your garden, not taking up space in a land fill. 

Before we leave the lawn, there’s still time to apply a winterizer fertilizer. Fertilizing this time of year strengthens root systems, helps your grass prepare for winter and sets up the lawn for a strong start next spring. 

In the vegetable garden, adding organic material now helps establish a strong foundation for next season. Clean out any remaining plant debris, spread out the leaves you just cleaned up off the yard, then add two or three inches of organic compost. This will help maintain the structural integrity of the soil as well as protect the all-important micro-organisms living in your garden soil. 

Now’s the time to cut back any perennials in your landscape. You can prune roses back to about two feet, but wait to mulch until the ground is cold, usually around Thanksgiving. 

Now’s also the time to install tree wrap on young deciduous trees. Brown corrugated tree wrap is easy to install and will protect trees from winter sun scald. Start at the base of the tree and spiral the wrap upward to the first primary branch. Loop the wrap over the branch and tape in place. Finally, water your trees and shrubs. They’ll do much better if they are well-hydrated going into winter. Remember to water every four to five weeks through the winter season, especially if we don’t receive adequate natural moisture.

 Yes, there’s still time to plant some spring color.  Tulip, daffodil and hyacinth bulbs can all be planted now, before the ground freezes. They’ll do fine and will provide amazing color next spring. 

Now’s the time to winterize your lawn

The cool, wet mid-October weather has triggered some changes in your lawn.  The grass isn't growing as vigorously and typically, you're mowing less frequently. While top growth has slowed, grass roots are still very active, storing nutrients and moisture, getting ready for the winter season.  All this activity at the root level makes this the most important time to feed your lawn. Applying a Winterizer  fertilizer  in late October and early November benefits your lawn now by strengthening the root system, which in turn prepares the lawn for the rigors of winter. The most important nutrient for feeding fall lawns is Nitrogen, the first number listed on the bag. 

Fertilome Winterizer contains 25% Nitrogen, plus Potassium to help your lawn absorb and store the fertilizer you apply now. A twenty-pound bag of Fertilome Winterizer will cover a 5,000 square foot lawn. A forty-pound bag of Fertilome Winterizer will cover 10,000 square feet.

 Another choice for fall lawn fertilization is RichLawn Winterizer. Richlawn Winterizer is organically-based and has a 15-3-6 formula, again with emphasis on Nitrogen for root feeding.  This forty-pound bag of Richlawn® Winterizer will cover 6,000 square feet of lawn. 

The big benefit of feeding your lawn now comes next spring when the grass emerges from its dormant state and there’s sufficient nutrients in the root system to feed it. Applying a Winterizer fertilizer now means a quicker green-up, stronger top growth early in the spring season and a healthier lawn through the summer.  After applying Winterizer fertilizer, water your lawn thoroughly to help the fertilizer get down to the grass roots.  

In addition to feeding your lawn, this is a good time to work on the soil your grass grows in. HuMic contains humate, an organic-based soil conditioner. Humate will improve soil structure and increase nutrient uptake. If you choose to include HuMIc now, the sequence should be to apply HuMic product first, water it in, then apply Winterizer Fertilizer, followed by a thorough watering of the lawn. 

Speaking of watering, it’s important to water your lawn through the winter, if we don’t receive sufficient natural moisture.  Every four to five weeks when the temperature is above forty-five degrees, use a simple sprinkler attached to a hose to water your lawn. Water about noon and be sure to remove the hose from the spigot when you’re done watering.  Periodic watering through the winter will also benefit the trees and shrubs planted in or near your lawn. 

This is especially important where the lawn and trees are surrounded by sidewalks and streets.

Tips for planting spring flowering bulbs

Spring flowering bulbs are great additions to any garden. Just when you think winter will never end, early blooming crocus poke their heads up through the snow, followed soon by the daffodils and then a parade of early, mid and late blooming tulips. 

 The best time to plant these bulbs is now, in October. The soil temperature is cooler, but still warm enough to allow the bulbs to root before the ground freezes. 

Begin by selecting quality bulbs. Choose bulbs that are firm and light tan in color. The type of bulb is also important. Crocus are the earliest of the spring blooming bulbs, followed by daffodils and then tulips.  

Bulbs come loose in individual containers or as pre-packaged assortments. Loose-packed bulbs allow you to mix and match color, height and bloom time. Pre-packed bulbs are convenient.  Pick up a package or two, take them home and plant them. Next, consider where you plan to plant your bulbs. For the best blooms, select a site where your bulbs will receive at least six hours of sunlight. 

Prepare the site by amending the existing soil with organic material, such as Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and Compost or Organic Compost. Plan to lay down two to three inches of amendments to the site, then mix thoroughly with the existing soil to a depth of six to seven inches. You can use a spade or garden fork to prepare the ground. 

Once the site is prepared, you’re ready to plant your bulbs. Bulbs display best when you plant them in groups, rather than individuals. With a newly prepared bed, this is easy to do. Dig a hole between six and seven inches deep, broadcast some Dutch Bulb Food over the area, then cover the fertilizer lightly with soil. This allows the bulb to root into the fertilizer. Next, place eight or ten bulbs flat side down in the planting hole. Cover the bulbs with soil and water thoroughly. 

You may choose to plant some of your bulbs in existing beds. In this case, a bulb planter or bulb auger allows you to easily dig a hole and plant your bulbs without disturbing any perennials or shrubs already planted there. Once planted, mark the spot and water the site thoroughly. 

Check on your bulbs through the winter. They should be watered every four to five weeks, along with the rest of the trees and shrubs in your landscape. Bulbs planted now offer a profusion of spring color for many seasons to come.