It appears we’re getting an early and unseasonably wet and cold
fall season. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to put the garden to
bed. There are a myriad of fall garden chores to deal with during
what I call our
”
second season.
”
I always laugh when I read gardening articles that talk
about
”
putting your garden to bed.
”
That’s because back in the Midwest and East, home gardeners
basically can’t garden from November through February.
It appears we’re getting an early and unseasonably wet and cold fall season. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to put the garden to bed. There are a myriad of fall garden chores to deal with during what I call our “second season.”
I always laugh when I read gardening articles that talk about “putting your garden to bed.” That’s because back in the Midwest and East, home gardeners basically can’t garden from November through February. Even articles locally about protecting frost-tender plants make me smile.
With the exception of a few tropical plants like bougainvillaea, hibiscus, and newly-planted citrus, ferns and possibly fuchsias, most everything else we plant in our local gardens aren’t hurt by frost.
Which brings us to our “second season.” Fall is the ideal time to plant more flowers, more vegetables, more bulbs, and even trees, shrubs, and lawns!
Sure it’s unseasonably cold and wet for this time of year, but – just think of it this way – you won’t have to water newly-planted specimens.
Plus, they’ll get a head start, and be well on their way toward being established by next spring.
Among the most important chores right now is amending your soil. It’s perfect to add everything from organic compost to steer manure, mushroom compost or other types of top dressing to established planting areas. Even if you can’t rototill these soil amendments in, simply throwing them over the top will help. Our early rains will even help wash out the bad stuff and mix in the good stuff!
As mentioned, almost anything can be planted now. If you’ve been waiting to plant a lawn, go ahead and seed or put down sod. How about that tree you’ve been wanting in the corner of the yard? Or how about transplanting that hydrangea that gets too much sun in its current location?
Winter bedding plants will provide color in your garden from now until next June. Pull out or cut back those leggy impatiens and petunias, and replace them with pansies, violas, snapdragons, Iceland poppy, primroses, primulas, cyclamen – you can see the range of choices.
Cold-season vegetables ranging from cabbage and carrots to fava beans and broccoli can be planted now. Pull out those brown tomato plants and start anew.
Spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils and crocus can be planted now through January. Try staggering your plantings of bulbs every couple weeks for non-stop blooming in the spring.
