Old Man Winter is just around the corner. And many home
gardeners are looking forward to his arrival
– what with no more lugging the garden hose, fertilizing and
spraying. Ah, but the smart home gardener should know that before
the Old Man is here to stay, there are numerous garden chores that
should be completed in October or November.
Old Man Winter is just around the corner. And many home gardeners are looking forward to his arrival – what with no more lugging the garden hose, fertilizing and spraying. Ah, but the smart home gardener should know that before the Old Man is here to stay, there are numerous garden chores that should be completed in October or November.
Almost any plant, shrub, vine or tree can be pruned – usually between now and February. Novice home gardeners often tend to be hesitant about pruning and cutting back specimens. However, they shouldn’t be. The vast majority of plants respond well to pruning. In fact, pruning usually stimulates new growth.
While overgrown plants should be pruned, other plants aren’t so obvious. It’s usually a good idea to open up the middle of plants. This translates to cutting out criss-crossing branches and multiple branches in the middle of plants. This opens up the plant to accept more sunlight and air. This leads to more growth and a healthier plant as air circulation fights off fungus diseases and insect infestations.
Certain citrus like limes and lemons, as well as tropical plants like hibiscus and bougainvillea, should not be pruned now. That’s because they are frost sensitive. Any growth, even overgrown growth, will help to protect them a little from frost. Instead, you should prune these, if necessary, in early spring.
Of course, you’ve heard it here before – fall is the best time to plant. Everything from flowers and shrubs to trees and vines and even lawns can be planted now. If you plant in the fall, rains will help establish them with no further attention needed. Plus, the soil is still somewhat warm, so roots will get established between now and spring.
Besides pruning and planting, this is the ideal time to clean up your garden as well. Summer vegetables like tomatoes and zucchini are pretty much finished by now. Weeds and other brush should be cleared before regular rains begin benefiting them. Diseased plants that are left to stand may cause infection during following years.
Keep your rake in motion by cleaning fallen leaves. If rains soak leaves, they become a haven for insects and disease. Try not to throw leaves away. Instead, compost them. A compost pile is easily made in an isolated part of your garden. Simply throw the leaves into a pile and cover them with black plastic. Occasional stirring and watering will turn those old leaves into rich compost that you can use in the garden come next summer.
So, just because the weather is cooler, there are plenty of chores around the garden. Remember, we’re not like your relatives back in the Midwest or East who have to put their gardens to bed this time of year.
