Although September here on the Coast is still very warm, we can expect cooler temperatures around mid- October. So, now’s the time to finish the gardening season strong by prepping your garden for winter.
Some essential outdoor chores to add to your fall to-do list include: Giving permanent plantings such as trees, shrubs and perennials a little love and winterizing your lawn. A little work now means you’ll have more time in spring for planting vegetables and colorful blooms rather than being bogged down with clean-up tasks and tracking down garden tools.
Complete a couple of tasks each day, and you’ll be ready for winter in short order. Then you can spend your time browsing seed catalogs while you dream up next year’s garden plans.
PREPARE YOUR LAWN FOR WINTER
As the weather cools off, autumn lawn care is a combination of clean-up and encouraging new growth. It’s also a good time to help your grass recover from being trampled during backyard games of catch or bocce ball this summer.
HERE ARE SOME LAWN TASKS TO TACKLE THIS SEASON:
• Deal with fallen leaves: Turf grass won’t tolerate leaves well, so it’s best to rake off or blow off what you can. If you don’t have a lot of leaves, mow over them to chop them into smaller pieces that will add nutrients to the soil. If you get a heavy layer of leaves, move to a flower bed for winter mulch, saving pollinators through the winter.
• Seed or lay sod: Cool temperatures combined with late fall rain create ideal conditions for establishing new lawns or making repairs.
• Aerate your lawn: Plan to aerate your lawn every two to three years to loosen compacted soil.
• Keep up with weeds: Many common lawn weeds will proliferate as temperatures drop. Keep in mind we have winter weeds and summer weeds. If weeds are present, using a post-emergent herbicide will help; however, pre-emergent herbicide will be needed to stop weed seeds from germinating.
• Raise your mower blade: Keeping your lawn taller will encourage more root growth, which helps grass survive the winter better.
PREP YOUR PERENNIAL GARDEN
Perennials are garden workhorses. After a long growing season, they’re ready for a winter rest.
Stop deadheading in early fall and leave the above-ground parts standing even after frost kills them (unless pests and diseases are an issue). They›ll provide both food and shelter for wildlife. Songbirds will enjoy the seed buffet, and many pollinators like native bees overwinter in standing stems and brush.
HERE ARE THE FALL CHORES YOU’LL WANT TO PRIORITIZE IN YOUR PERENNIAL GARDEN:
• Remove weeds: Clear away as many as possible now so you have fewer to deal with next spring.
• Add mulch: After planting and/or weeding, add a 4- to 5-inch-thick layer of mulch between plants to minimize weed growth, hold moisture and protect plants from hard freezes.
• Plant spring-blooming bulbs: Tulips, daffodils and many other spring-blooming bulbs are best planted in late September or October.
• Dispose of diseased or pest-ridden plants: Remove any leaves, stems, and whole plants with diseases or bugs to prevent problems the following year.
• Water once a week if dry: Although perennials go dormant in the fall, their roots are still actively growing. Well-hydrated plants withstand winter stresses better.