Chris, my husband, and I recently traveled to Nashville for Labor Day weekend. Christopher, our 23-year-old son, moved into his first post college apartment two months earlier, and this was the first chance we had to help him with the move. By my count, this is the ninth time we have helped our adult children make the transition from one living space to another. We know the drill. First day: show up with a bunch of used furniture and furnishings, start cleaning, measure the windows for curtains, begin unpacking and evaluate what else is needed. Second day: head to Goodwill, Wal-Mart, and Home Depot, finish unpacking and with any luck, have enough time to enjoy a family dinner out. The pressure was on, but in 48 hours, we were able to make a huge difference and Christopher genuinely appreciated our efforts.
Gardening in the fall is a bit like our Labor Day weekend. The ground will freeze, the temperatures will drop, and the window of opportunity to accomplish tasks outdoors will close. While perhaps the pressure isn’t on, it is important to make the most of the next six weeks. Here is a list of gardening activities that you may want to do this fall.
1. Continue to water plants if the soil is slightly dry. It is important that all plants, but especially evergreen shrubs and trees are watered thoroughly as we transition to winter.
2. Add some color to your yard by planting perennial flowers or flowering shrubs. Cool air temperatures and warm soil temperatures combine to make fall an idea time to plant.
3. Evaluate any tree branches that are hanging over your home. Consider pruning those branches before ice and snow weighs them down. This will also help to keep your gutters clean.
4. Document your garden. In the spring, sometimes it is difficult to remember what things looked like the previous year. Make note of any areas that you liked or didn’t like in preparation for any changes that you may decide to make.
5. Invite a friend over for a lunch outdoors. For many, fall is their favorite season.
6. Remove any weeds from your planting beds. Many weeds develop seed heads in the fall. Removing them now will help to control their growth for years to come.
7. Fertilize your lawn. The turf roots continue to absorb nutrients even when the foliage stops growing.
8. Lay sod or spread seed. Cool temperatures make it a great time to enhance your current lawn.
9. Core-aerate the lawn. The act of core-aeration helps to reduce thatch and soil compaction.
10. Spread mulch. A layer of mulch acts as a blanket to insulate plants and moderate the soil temperature. Mulch can also be used to protect marginally hardy plants such as butterfly bush and some roses.
11. Cutback perennial foliage after we have a hard frost. Although the foliage on some perennial flowers should remain in place, consider cutting back foliage affected by diseases or insects. Flowers that spread by seed or are aggressive can also be cutback in an effort to try to control their growth.
12. Plant spring blooming bulbs such as, hyacinth, crocus, scilla, tulips or daffodils. A bit of work this fall, will lead to a welcome sight as the snow is melting.
13. Bring annual flowers indoors. Certain annual flowers, such as geraniums, can be overwintered successfully.
14. Evaluate and prune summer blooming shrubs. To maximize the flowers next summer, summer blooming shrubs should be pruned now.
15. Invite a member of your family to spend time with you outdoors. Although asking for help can be difficult, they may actually be grateful for the opportunity to spend time together and help you. As they say many hands make light work.
16. Divide perennial flowers. Perennial flowers such as hostas, iris, and daylilies start flowering less and less if they are not divided approximately every three to four years.
17. Protect your plants from rabbits. If you had rabbits eating your plants this summer, they may continue to eat them this winter. It is important that you protect your shrubs over the next five months.
18. Collect cut flowers. Dried flowers can be brought inside and preserved through drying.
19. Evaluate and store your gardening supplies and tools. Cleaning gardening tools and properly storing plant care chemicals will lead to few surprises when you go to use them next spring.
20. Take time to admire your yard. There are many beautiful aspects to nature and your yard in particular. It is yours. Own, admire, and appreciate it.
As Labor Day weekend came to a close, I gave Christopher a hug and said goodbye. It was the first time that I truly wished we lived closer and could do more for him. Thankfully, Chris was there to whisper, “He has to do this on his own.”
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc.,a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
