Fall - Expert Tips for Gardening Success
Fall gardening brings a new dimension to the garden. To ensure gardening success, here are some expert tips:
- Plant Bulbs: Fall is the best time to plant spring-blooming bulbs like daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths. They require a chilling period to bloom, and the cool fall weather provides this.
- Perennial Care: Divide overgrown perennials and relocate them. This refreshes the plant, allowing it to grow more vigorously in the spring.
- Fertilize: Apply slow-release fertilizers to replenish nutrients in the soil. This sets the stage for healthy spring growth.
- Tidy Up: Remove spent plants and dead foliage to prevent the overwintering of pests and diseases. Compost plant material that is free of disease or pests.
- Winterize: Protect sensitive plants with mulch or move them indoors before the first frost.
- Plant Trees and Shrubs: Fall’s cooler temperatures and more reliable rainfall make it an excellent time to establish new trees and shrubs.
- Grow Fall Vegetables: Plant vegetables like kale, spinach, and lettuce for a fall harvest.
- Maintain Lawn: Aerate, fertilize and reseed the lawn to repair summer damage and prepare it for winter.
- Plan for Spring: Use this quieter time to plan your spring garden. Order seeds and bulbs, taking into consideration lessons learned from the current growing season.
- Enjoy: Most importantly, take the time to enjoy the change of season and the colors it brings to your garden. Fall is a time of abundance and reflection in the garden.
