Toni-Lynn
09-04-2008, 01:44 AM
After a long summer of mowing, weeding and watering, it's tempting to let the garden go "natural" in the fall. After all, in most parts of the country it's just going to be frozen and covered in snow in a couple of months.
Actually, fall cleanup and maintenance of your yard helps lay the foundation for a healthy, beautiful lawn and garden next spring, and keeps bugs and disease at bay. Consider adding the items on this checklist to your "Things to Do" this fall:
Keep watering.
If you're in an area where watering is permitted, keep it up! In many parts of the country, winter can produce near-drought conditions. A well-watered lawn in fall will help your grass remain hardy throughout the winter.
Rake up leaves promptly.
Don't let a thick carpet of leaves accumulate on your lawn, especially if you've had rain. Grass is still growing in the fall, and it needs sunlight to live. Spending more than a few days covered in leaves could kill the grass.
Mow the lawn one last time.
Experts recommend a grass height of about 2-1/2 inches as optimum for wintering over. Grass cut too short will stress the lawn; left too long, it has a greater chance of getting snow mold. A general rule of thumb any time of year is to never cut more than 1/3 of the blade at a time.
Fertilize the lawn.
Fall is a great time to fertilize the lawn, and a dry fertilizer is the way to go. These pellets contain time-released nitrogen to provide nutrients all winter long. If you can time it right, fertilize about a month before the first deep freeze.
Tend to your perennials.
Fall and spring are the two times of the year you can divide perennials. The advantage of doing it in fall is you have a good idea of which ones are overgrown and where they can move once divided. Divide them in spring, and you won't have big, leafy plants to deal with. Either way, you'll probably want to trim back your perennials and shrubs in the fall to keep your garden looking neater through the winter. If you just can't get to it, don't worry "? it's not bad for the plants to cut them back in spring.
Anytime before a deep freeze, you can plant bulbs for beautiful results the next spring. Don't fret if you run out of time. In the spring, many garden stores offer potted tulips and daffodils that can be planted for instant garden color. Those bulbs will continue to bloom year after year.
Protect your equipment too.
In the late summer or early fall, stop filling your lawnmower's gas tank to the brim. A gas mower should be stored dry over the winter, so after the last mowing, run your lawn mower until it's out of gas. Don't forget other equipment: Drain and store your hoses and turn off the water supply to the outside. If you have automatic sprinklers, turn them off and drain your sprinkler lines if you get freezing weather.
Finally, don't forget to bring in your lawn ornaments and yard furniture and make sure your (ugh!) shovels and snow blower are ready for winter.
Question:
How do you prepare your garden for cold weather?
Source (http://www.scottcommonsense.com/NeatAndClean/Articles/YourFallGardeningChecklist.aspx?articleID=48&catID=3)
Actually, fall cleanup and maintenance of your yard helps lay the foundation for a healthy, beautiful lawn and garden next spring, and keeps bugs and disease at bay. Consider adding the items on this checklist to your "Things to Do" this fall:
Keep watering.
If you're in an area where watering is permitted, keep it up! In many parts of the country, winter can produce near-drought conditions. A well-watered lawn in fall will help your grass remain hardy throughout the winter.
Rake up leaves promptly.
Don't let a thick carpet of leaves accumulate on your lawn, especially if you've had rain. Grass is still growing in the fall, and it needs sunlight to live. Spending more than a few days covered in leaves could kill the grass.
Mow the lawn one last time.
Experts recommend a grass height of about 2-1/2 inches as optimum for wintering over. Grass cut too short will stress the lawn; left too long, it has a greater chance of getting snow mold. A general rule of thumb any time of year is to never cut more than 1/3 of the blade at a time.
Fertilize the lawn.
Fall is a great time to fertilize the lawn, and a dry fertilizer is the way to go. These pellets contain time-released nitrogen to provide nutrients all winter long. If you can time it right, fertilize about a month before the first deep freeze.
Tend to your perennials.
Fall and spring are the two times of the year you can divide perennials. The advantage of doing it in fall is you have a good idea of which ones are overgrown and where they can move once divided. Divide them in spring, and you won't have big, leafy plants to deal with. Either way, you'll probably want to trim back your perennials and shrubs in the fall to keep your garden looking neater through the winter. If you just can't get to it, don't worry "? it's not bad for the plants to cut them back in spring.
Anytime before a deep freeze, you can plant bulbs for beautiful results the next spring. Don't fret if you run out of time. In the spring, many garden stores offer potted tulips and daffodils that can be planted for instant garden color. Those bulbs will continue to bloom year after year.
Protect your equipment too.
In the late summer or early fall, stop filling your lawnmower's gas tank to the brim. A gas mower should be stored dry over the winter, so after the last mowing, run your lawn mower until it's out of gas. Don't forget other equipment: Drain and store your hoses and turn off the water supply to the outside. If you have automatic sprinklers, turn them off and drain your sprinkler lines if you get freezing weather.
Finally, don't forget to bring in your lawn ornaments and yard furniture and make sure your (ugh!) shovels and snow blower are ready for winter.
Question:
How do you prepare your garden for cold weather?
Source (http://www.scottcommonsense.com/NeatAndClean/Articles/YourFallGardeningChecklist.aspx?articleID=48&catID=3)