Garden Update: Fall (continued)
Our guide on how to extend the life of your summer blooms, prep your garden for the cold months ahead and help it achieve a thriving spring
KEEP YOUR GARDEN HEALTHY
•Pest Watch
Cut back leaves on anything that has been eaten by insects or is turning yellow or brown. This will improve the aesthetic and prevent disease from spreading.
As temperatures cool, plants without a strong root system can be subject to a process called heaving, Nardozzi says. This is when they are actually lifted up, causing the roots to die. Prevent this in newly planted perennials (those from last spring) by adding a layer of mulch around them that nourishes the soil and keeps them in place.
•Try Nature’s Mulch
Use the leaves in your backyard for nutrient-rich soil that’s eco-friendly and cost-efficient, suggests Michele Owens a Garden Rant blogger. “Leaves are the reason why the soil in the forest is so fertile,” Owens says. “They protect your plants in the winter and enrich the soil.” Simply run over the leaves with a lawnmower to break them down and rake the remains into your flowerbeds.
•Embrace Container Gardening
You can’t fight the frost, but if you have container gardens, you can ride out that last little bit of warmth and sunshine. Move containers either closer to the warmth of the house or in an area of your yard that has access to direct sunlight to make sure your flowers last as long as possible.
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