Perennials
Clean up perennials. Always remove leaf matter from plants that have had fungal or insect problems from the summer to prevent insect or disease from over-wintering. When you cut perennials back – leave 4-6" of leaf stalk showing. These tufts of remaining stems will grab hold of snow aiding in insulating the plant’s roots.
Divide perennials if needed. Dig around the entire clump, gently raising it. You can either cut the root or gently pull it apart. Remember to add Bone Meal for quick root recovery.
Pick up flax straw to cover perennial beds when temperatures drop.
Empty flower containers. Store them off the ground in a dry place.
Dig up summer flowering bulbs and tubers such as dahlias and gladiolas for winter storage. A very light frost begins the plants dormancy habit. Dig tubers and bulbs – remove soil from the roots, wash, let air dry and store in a cool, dark location in a crate of peat moss.
Tidying the Garden
As annual flowering plants begin to decline, beds can be cleaned and tilled. Application of clay buster in the fall will make planting easier in the soil come spring. Peat moss may also be added at this time. Once the area is clean there is opportunity for fall planting of tulips, daffodils, allium, and fall garlic for the following spring.
Over-wintering plants
It is best to begin bringing in tropical plants such as hibiscus, oleanders and possibly selections of herbs from the garden which you may want to keep growing. Best to bring in plants before temperature get too cool and begin to drop leaves. It is advisable to give these plants a nice "shower" with the garden hose to blast off any unwanted characters such as aphids from entering indoors.
These tips of fall preparation will get you on your way to preparing for the next season. As the month progresses you will be able to continue with the final tasks of preparing the lawn, wintering the lawn mower and tidying up the garden shed until it is needed next spring.
Tree & Shrubs
Leaves are changing color and soon will fall from the trees and shrubs. Raking up these leaves will aid in the removal of disease and insects from harbouring in the leafy mulch left on the ground. This is the time to take preventative measures against canker worms and other insects from climbing up tree and overwintering in cracks and crevices. A sticky paste of Sticky Feet can be applied when paired with tree banding to capture such problematic insects. Most important ---- All spruce, cedar and pine should be well watered before winter sets in. Some years, fall has been long, with little natural moisture. Keep the garden hose handy and water trees well. All evergreens like to have good moisture in their plant cells before winter hits.
Protect pyramidal evergreens, fruit trees, crabapples, and roses from rodents, drying winds, snow and ice breakage and intermittent freezing and thawing.
Use protectants such as Skoot Rabbit Repellant, Mouse Bait, burlap, rose collars, plastic tree guards and flax straw. Never wrap plants in plastic wrap – it will cause a greenhouse effect and dry out the plants.
Pick up Dormant Oil / Lime Sulphur in preparation of spraying trees in the fall – but only when the trees have lost all it’s leaves. This procedure also helps with deterring overwintering insect and disease.
In the tool shed
Sharpen up all pruners and loppers.
Clean shovels, trowels, and hoes by rubbing them down in a bucket of sand and motor oil, such as 10W30 or 10W40. The oil helps to prevent rust and corrosion. A well-kept tool makes light work in the garden.
Store un-used fertilizers in a cool location away from moisture.
For the Lawn
Late in the season before the snow flies...do a final cut on the lawn. The grass should be on the short side to prevent grass mold from occurring in the spring. Having a shorter grass before winter helps in keeping critters such as voles from burrowing. A product such as Vamoose may be applied to areas close to the house or in areas to prevent these wee critters from venturing.
St. Mary’s Nursery has everything you need to get your garden and yard ready for winter. Visit them in store at 2901 St. Mary’s Rd (just 2km south of the perimeter) or online at www.stmarysnurseryandgardencentre.ca
