Fall is upon
us with the changing temperatures and entering the month of October. Some may
start to think about the garden as the growing season comes to an end. Doing a
couple of things now can help when winter sets in. The first frost may be a
ways away but being prepared is always a good thing.
Start by
cleaning what leaves have fallen so far with the start of fall color season
beginning. Trees are dropping leaves with the dry conditions that area around
along with the cooler night temperatures. Add some organic matter to the garden
to help add some revive the soil for next spring, such as compost or cow
manure. Once the first frost set sets in, some perennial ground covers can be
cut to ground level such as hostas or day lilies. Cutting these plants back
keeps disease and pests from hiding in the garden all winter. Give the plants a
deep watering to help the soil preserve moisture through the winter. Plant
spring bulbs at this time to give the garden some new color in the spring.
Apply a winter fertilizer to the lawn to help a deep root system develop, avoid
adding any nitrogen unless it is a cool season grass such as Fescue or
Bluegrass. A few things can help things survive if we have a harsh winter as
some are predicting in different areas of the country.
