Backyard Garden
Fall Gardening Essentials
Did you think you were finished gardening for the year when you picked the
pumpkins and squash, or watched the chrysanthemums begin to fade from bloom
with the first early frosts? The harvest may be done, but you have a lot to
do to get ready for next spring! The first snows have already begun to fall
in the northern part of the country, so hurry and get started with these
gardening essentials before it's too late!
First, if you have tender plants or shrubs, such as a young tree or a bush
just planted this spring, you'll need to protect it from the harsh winter
weather. You can do this by wrapping the root ball in burlap, and setting it
back into the ground. Cover exposed stems with straw if possible, so that
freezing wind and ice do not break off or damage branches.
If the first cold frosts haven't already started in your area, prune back
rosebushes and other perennials. This will create more blooms in the spring,
when the new growth begins to appear. Don't trim back too far, though; a
good rule of thumb is to cut back no further than where last years' branches
forked and started to grow. Of course, if you have dead or broken branches,
this is the best time for removing these as well.
Place the cuttings from the bushes on the compost pile. If you have annual
vines or flowering plants, remove these from the garden beds and add them to
the pile. Top your compost off with the leaves raked from the yard. (You don't
have to remove the leaves from the garden beds until you are ready to work
the soil next spring; the leaves will decompose and add their nutrients to
the soil over the winter.)
Now and throughout the winter, check your gardening equipment and determine
whether any repairs or replacements need to be made. Clean the tools
carefully and oil them to prevent rust. Sharpen clippers and store them away
carefully. Organize your storage shed or garage to ensure that you have
handy access to important equipment, especially tillers and shovels, which
you'll need early next spring before you start planting.
Stock up on gardening essentials such as gloves, burlap, and twine. Drain
hoses completely so that they do not freeze and burst during the winter
months.
After you have all of your gardening essentials organized and ready for next
spring, start planning. Do you intend to plant different annuals? Are you
planning to add new vegetables to your garden? Spend the winter months
reading about what kind of sunlight, watering and soil conditions these
plants might take.
By late February, you should be ready to plant seedlings and get next year's
plants started, so be sure that you have enough pots and soil stored back
and ready for this. You really don't have a moment to lose; spring will be
here before you know it, and you'll be outside in the garden once more!
This article is brought to you courtesy of PebbleZ's line of exotic natural stone décor products, and was
written by Joey Pebble, an artist, designer, and author, that has worked
closely with the company since its inception.
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