Fall Gardening
Just because the seasons are changing doesn’t mean it’s time to give up on your garden. Fall gardening has just as many rewards as beginning a garden in the spring, and can leave you with even fewer hassles.
“Few gardeners realize fall is the ideal planting time,” said David Ploussard, retail team leader and horticulturist at Hoerr Nursery. “After a long winter, most people are anxious to get out and plant—but the beautiful, sunny days of autumn are even better than spring.”
In the fall season, plants begin developing more easily, as the roots can take hold without having to support the new top growth of the plant, as with the spring. Also, there are fewer weeds for plants to contend with in the fall. “Although many people think of spring as the main planting season, there are many advantages to planting trees and shrubs in fall,” said Johanna James-Heinz, landscape designer at Green View Companies. “Trees are often freshly dug in the fall, so there’s a large selection. Cooler temps and adequate moisture often mean less watering than spring or summer plantings, which may need to be nursed through a dry summer.”
Some of the plants that thrive in the cooler weather of fall include flowering kale, pansies, mums, and asters. “Think beyond just flowers, though,” James-Heinz said. “To create a garden that shines in the fall, be sure to include plants with brilliantly colored fall foliage. Ornamental grasses are great for fall gardens. They provide shimmering seed heads as well as foliage color.”
Grass seeds grow best in the fall season, making it the perfect time to improve your lawn. “Many turf grasses are cool-season grasses,” James-Heinz said. “They come out of summer dormancy and start growing again with cooler temperatures. New seed will be most successful in the fall—especially when planted from mid-August to mid-September. Lawn aeration is also best done in the fall. The grass will fill in quickly, and the freeze/thaw cycles of the winter will break down the aerated plugs.”
Fall is also the perfect time to move or divide plants. Perennials divide best in the fall, and the season is also perfect for transplanting roses. “There’s no better time to transplant most plants, so they have time to grow new roots,” Ploussard said. “By spring, the plants are ready to bloom and grow.”
To extend the life of plants, gardeners can keep the ground warm through mulching in the fall. The best mulches to use are lightweight, such as straw, evergreen boughs, or shredded barks. However, mulching can also present some problems if not done properly. Mulch can provide a place for rodents to hide while snacking on plants. Also, damp mulch can result in rot, mildew, fungi, or certain diseases.
Even when it’s too cold for them to be outside, your plants can still flourish during the winter months. Many plants can be brought inside to a sunny area as container plants so you may enjoy them through the cold weather. “Many ‘annuals’ are actually tropicals that will survive the winter as houseplants,” James-Heinz said. “Consider bringing in hardy herbs as well, so you can harvest them throughout the winter. Get a jump start on spring by planting some bulbs in containers for winter forcing. After a cooling-off period, you can bring them inside and have flowers in the winter. To enjoy the garden longer, plant some everlastings. These plants have flowers, seeds, or berries you can dry, arrange, and enjoy all winter. In the parts of your garden visible from inside, add plants that have winter interest or that attract birds. You may not be able to work in your garden, but at least you can still enjoy it from inside.”
Follow these tips to prepare your garden for winter:
• Clean off the garden, especially if there have been insect or disease problems. A clean garden reduces problems for next year.
• Small plants, such as perennials, which can be pushed out of the ground by frost heaving, should be mulched. When winterizing the garden with mulch, it’s best to do it after the frost moves into the soil.
• Water plants before the ground freezes. This is especially important for new planting or following dry, autumn weather conditions.
• Dig up tender bulbs to save for planting next year. These include dahlia, gladiolus, cannas, and caladium.
• Clean the garden off in fall. Remove perennials remnants that have died down. Anything with winter interest can wait until spring to be removed. Everything else should be cleaned off, especially any weeds that are present.
• Cultivate the soil, adding any needed amendments and fertilizers in fall. This might include flower beds, vegetable gardens, and new landscape areas. There’s usually more time for soil preparation in autumn than in spring, as well as less rain, so the soil should be dry enough.
• Prune plants, except those that flower from March to early June.
• Apply a pre-emergent weed preventer such as Treflan, which helps prevent some of the early weeds from germinating.
For more information on fall gardening, contact the representatives at Hoerr Nursery, 691-4561; or Green View Companies, 243-7761. tpw
“Few gardeners realize fall is the ideal planting time,” said David Ploussard, retail team leader and horticulturist at Hoerr Nursery. “After a long winter, most people are anxious to get out and plant—but the beautiful, sunny days of autumn are even better than spring.”
In the fall season, plants begin developing more easily, as the roots can take hold without having to support the new top growth of the plant, as with the spring. Also, there are fewer weeds for plants to contend with in the fall. “Although many people think of spring as the main planting season, there are many advantages to planting trees and shrubs in fall,” said Johanna James-Heinz, landscape designer at Green View Companies. “Trees are often freshly dug in the fall, so there’s a large selection. Cooler temps and adequate moisture often mean less watering than spring or summer plantings, which may need to be nursed through a dry summer.”
Some of the plants that thrive in the cooler weather of fall include flowering kale, pansies, mums, and asters. “Think beyond just flowers, though,” James-Heinz said. “To create a garden that shines in the fall, be sure to include plants with brilliantly colored fall foliage. Ornamental grasses are great for fall gardens. They provide shimmering seed heads as well as foliage color.”
Grass seeds grow best in the fall season, making it the perfect time to improve your lawn. “Many turf grasses are cool-season grasses,” James-Heinz said. “They come out of summer dormancy and start growing again with cooler temperatures. New seed will be most successful in the fall—especially when planted from mid-August to mid-September. Lawn aeration is also best done in the fall. The grass will fill in quickly, and the freeze/thaw cycles of the winter will break down the aerated plugs.”
Fall is also the perfect time to move or divide plants. Perennials divide best in the fall, and the season is also perfect for transplanting roses. “There’s no better time to transplant most plants, so they have time to grow new roots,” Ploussard said. “By spring, the plants are ready to bloom and grow.”
To extend the life of plants, gardeners can keep the ground warm through mulching in the fall. The best mulches to use are lightweight, such as straw, evergreen boughs, or shredded barks. However, mulching can also present some problems if not done properly. Mulch can provide a place for rodents to hide while snacking on plants. Also, damp mulch can result in rot, mildew, fungi, or certain diseases.
Even when it’s too cold for them to be outside, your plants can still flourish during the winter months. Many plants can be brought inside to a sunny area as container plants so you may enjoy them through the cold weather. “Many ‘annuals’ are actually tropicals that will survive the winter as houseplants,” James-Heinz said. “Consider bringing in hardy herbs as well, so you can harvest them throughout the winter. Get a jump start on spring by planting some bulbs in containers for winter forcing. After a cooling-off period, you can bring them inside and have flowers in the winter. To enjoy the garden longer, plant some everlastings. These plants have flowers, seeds, or berries you can dry, arrange, and enjoy all winter. In the parts of your garden visible from inside, add plants that have winter interest or that attract birds. You may not be able to work in your garden, but at least you can still enjoy it from inside.”
Follow these tips to prepare your garden for winter:
• Clean off the garden, especially if there have been insect or disease problems. A clean garden reduces problems for next year.
• Small plants, such as perennials, which can be pushed out of the ground by frost heaving, should be mulched. When winterizing the garden with mulch, it’s best to do it after the frost moves into the soil.
• Water plants before the ground freezes. This is especially important for new planting or following dry, autumn weather conditions.
• Dig up tender bulbs to save for planting next year. These include dahlia, gladiolus, cannas, and caladium.
• Clean the garden off in fall. Remove perennials remnants that have died down. Anything with winter interest can wait until spring to be removed. Everything else should be cleaned off, especially any weeds that are present.
• Cultivate the soil, adding any needed amendments and fertilizers in fall. This might include flower beds, vegetable gardens, and new landscape areas. There’s usually more time for soil preparation in autumn than in spring, as well as less rain, so the soil should be dry enough.
• Prune plants, except those that flower from March to early June.
• Apply a pre-emergent weed preventer such as Treflan, which helps prevent some of the early weeds from germinating.
For more information on fall gardening, contact the representatives at Hoerr Nursery, 691-4561; or Green View Companies, 243-7761. tpw