| THE CASUAL GARDENER, Shawna Coronado FALL CLEAN UP - There’s something SCARY in your garden! = = = = = = = = = Dear Casual Gardener, It’s Fall cleanup time! What are your best suggestions for proper clean up? Signed, Clean Up Cathy = = = = = = = = = = Dear Cathy, I suggest you be environmentally sound! For most of your perennial garden beds, there’s absolutely nothing you need to do! I leave most perennials plants “as is” at the end of the season. Their arching stems and drying seed heads provide Winter interest. For some perennials, like Hydrangeas, their flower heads provide a great place for snow to land and your eye to rest. The exception to this is any plant that has had a form of fungus, black spot or mold during the warmer season. Trimming the plant down below its point of leaf development and throwing it away is important. Do not put these plants in your compost pile as it will proliferate the fungus. It’s preferable to lift any leaves from an infected plant that have dropped on the ground as well. You can do this with any of the new leaf vacuum tools, or by hand. The advantage of cleaning up these perennials is in preventing the fungus from coming back next year. Heavy leaf fall on grass is a good reason to mow your lawn at this time of year. Once the leaves make their final hurrah, definitely clean them up. Collect the leaves in the mower bag or rake them up by hand. They can be used to make leaf mold for your perennial beds if you’d like to practice some positive conservation and “recycle”. This time of year is “not the end of the gardening year”; it is a fantastic opportunity to “extend” your garden season from a health perspective. Get yourself off that couch and out in the daylight and get some exercise and health benefits from nature. There are plenty of activities to do to keep you busy. For example, when the soil freezes it’s a good time to mulch trees and plants to prevent heaving. It’s also a good time to clean your pots and store them away. Be sure to sterilize pots in a 10% bleach solution to kill any disease which might be left from the summer. Install covers or wrap protection for tender plants. Remember – GET OFF THE COUCH and go experience nature in the Fall!! It’s healthy for you and your environment! Please send your gardening questions for Shawna Coronado, The Casual Gardener to dearshawna@thecasualgardener.com or The Casual Gardener, P.O. Box 358, Warrenville, IL 60555. www.thecasualgardener.com |
| The Casual Gardener.com |
| The Casual Gardener Column |
| Copyright 2007 and 2008, The Casual Gardener, Inc., All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Service. |