FALL IS FOR PLANTING

Plant new Trees, Shrubs, Perennials and spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils. Depending on your climate, you can do this anywhere from September to November. A good rule of thumb is that if the soil can be worked, things can be planted. As always, watering deeply is essential to remove air pockets around roots; avoid the fertilizer this time of year, although adding miccorhizhal supplements, either purchased (See our Age Old Organic OTSR) or homemade (compost or compost tea), is a great way to assist your roots in getting started.

WINTERIZING YOUR GARDEN

Getting your garden ready for winter (and next spring)

When evenings start to feel chilly, it’s time to begin preparing your garden for winter. Winterizing not only makes your garden look better during the cold weather months, but will make for easier work in the spring. Start closing your garden down when there is frost in the forecast or the temperature consistently starts to drop to the low 40’s or mid-30’s (Fahrenheit), usually around late October or November.  It is not the end of the world if you fail to perform these recommended tasks, but you risk losing some of you more recent plantings.  PLUS, when spring comes and you are raring to come to our nursery to purchase the latest plants, you will have all your garden chores finished.

Clean out current beds

Remove spent annuals, roots and all, while clearing weeds to reduce habitat for overwintering pests. Perennials that have winter interest or provide food for birds should remain uncut.  Otherwise, cut back to 8”. Examples of perennials to cutt back are Alchemilla, Campanula, Coreopsis, Delphinium, Geranium, Hosta and Veronica.

Evaluate your current beds and set goals for next year
While preparing for winter, consider areas of your landscape to enhance or renovate next spring.  Take time to review what worked and did not work in your garden over the past growing season. Look around and see if your yard is lacking in fall blooms. Consider adding late perennials to your space such as Asters, Sedums, grasses and Rudbeckias to rectify this.

Plant  Bulbs and Divide or move existing Perennial
Plant spring flowering bulbs in October. Divide and transplant perennials. Fall is a great time to plant and transplant since most plant energy goes into root development. With proper planting and care, plants that have developed healthy roots during the fall and winter are better prepared for spring growth and summer stress.

Remove Tree and Shrub Debris
Cleaning out leaves and other debris is particularly important with aspen and other poplars, which are susceptible to foliar diseases. Destroying diseased leaves is the primary way to prevent a recurrence.  Never add any diseased plant or leaves to your compost pile.  Pruning is usually not recommended in the fall because it may stimulate growth just as winter is coming.  It is o.k. to remove dead branches.  Wrap newly planted trees, especially sensitive varieties like honey locust or Japanese maple and regular maples. Wrap in burlap from the base of the trunk to the second or third branch, allowing some overlap to allow water to escape, then secure at the crown.

Mulching

Mulch around the base of shrubs and roses after the first frost when the soil begins to freeze. Avoid creating insect habitat by keeping mulch six inches away from the base of shrubs and trees.  If you mistakenly left the rose graft above the soil line, mulch heavily to cover it.  In general 4-6 inches of mulch, such as dried leaves, pine needles, shredded bark, or pine boughs will provide enough protection for your softer plants.  For plants in containers, it is best to move them indoors.  If they are too big to move, you can wrap the sides in bubble-wrap and generously cover the top with mulch.

Lawns
CSU turfgrass experts recommend "winterizing" your lawn by early November, applying at least one pound of nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet. For maximum effectiveness, turf must be green and soil must be moist when the fertilizer is applied. October is also a great time to aerate, especially when you're over-seeding to fill in bare spots in your lawn.

Vegetable Gardens
Weeding and removing dead plant material will reduce the amount of habitat for overwintering insects and fungal spores. Make plans to rotate spring crops to avoid soil-borne diseases (especially Tomatoes).

Clean and Store Garden Tools
Take time to clean, sharpen and oil your garden tools. You will not only extend their useful life, but also enjoy finding your tools ready for action in the spring. Drain and store water hoses but keep one handy for winter watering.

Watering

This is one of the most important things we can do to promote plant vigor.  Even experienced gardeners often fail to water adequately through the winter, only to find their trees, shrubs, perennials and lawns in crisis as summer arrives. Insufficiently watered plants often suffer root damage during winter, and emerge looking healthy, but succumb to disease or insects. See CSU Fact Sheet 7.211, "Fall & Winter Watering" at  the web site at http://www.ext.colostate.edu, click on Yard & Garden, then Fact Sheets & Publications.  If we suffer the frequent desicating winds again, spray the foliage on your evergreens,  it seems to suffer the most.  It is a good idea to give a thorough watering before the ground freezes.