Fall Garden Check-listing
By: Julie Barnes
Fall is an ideal time for shrub and tree planting, about 6 weeks before a hard frost. As you choose plants, observing their fall color can be advantageous in your decisions. Select only container-grown or balled-and-bur-lapped specimens and NEVER dormant bare-root plants that are only to be springtime planted. Fall planting encourages good root development. Once the air temperature cools and the days become shorter, the soil will still remain warm. Yet, the planting of broad-leaved evergreens that include rhododendrons, azaleas, boxwoods or hollies should be avoided. Their susceptibility to strong winter winds and frozen soil may cause leaf burn, unless protected, or treated with an anti-desiccant.
Winter pansies, ornamental kale and cabbage, or fall blooming chrysanthemums planted now will introduce a little more color to the garden as summer flowers start fading away.
Before night temperatures fall below 55 degrees, summer vacationing house or tropical plants should be brought inside before heating your home once again. Acclimatize plants by steadily decreasing their light levels to reduce leaf drop. Check for insects or disease and remove plant debris from the soil. Then, wash or treat them accordingly before placing them in with other plants.
Stop fertilizing trees, shrubs or perennials to harden off this year's growth before winter. Since they are slowly progressing into winter dormancy, removal of broken and diseased branches should be the only pruning done. A hard pruning of trees or shrubs, at this time, will only "confuse" them into triggering new growth.
Continue watering gardens, shrubs and trees if rainfall doesn't reach an inch or more every week, which it did not this past summer. It's important for plants to go into cold weather with adequate moisture, especially broadleaf evergreens.
Dig tender bulbs, such as caladiums, tuberous begonias, and gladiolus before frost. Lift the tubers together with the foliage and place plants in a warm, dry location until completely dried. Clip off dried out tops. Shake off excess soil and store in mesh bags, old hosiery, or in peat moss in an OPEN cardboard box at temperatures between 60 and 70°F.
To start fall clean-up, cut back plants that have finished blooming. Remove diseased plants or nonproducing vegetable plants to eliminate insects and diseases from your garden.
Order spring-flowering bulbs or purchase them locally. Since dry bulbs can deteriorate quickly in the warmth of a garden center, it is best to buy them as soon as possible after being delivered there but keep them cool and dry. Do not plant bulbs too soon. For good root formation, they are best planted at least four to six weeks before the ground completely freezes. Planting them too early can cause them to sprout top growth before winter.
Lastly, study your garden and reflect on this year's triumphs and frustrations.