Garden

Joyful Gardener: The Joy of Fall Gardening

This time of year, when brisk air greets you on a sunny morn, it promises a great day in the garden. Early-in-the day bird song provides background music. Who needs headphones filling one’s ears with bass and treble?

This is still an opportune time to transplant perennials, to plant potted or burlapped-and-balled trees and many types of shrubs.  Check with your local nursery or search online with the name of the plant to see if fall is a preferred planting time.

You may wish to trim back perennials. I like to trim them back partially, leaving about 5″-6″ of stems above ground. One reason is to catch snow around the plant, which helps insulate the roots. Another is so I can recall the plant being in that particular location, especially come early spring when it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate between new growth and weeds sprouting.

To provide winter interest in your landscape, you may want to leave hydrangea blooms on their stems. Ornamental grasses can look lovely with a touch of snow on their feathery tufts, waving gently in the breeze.

Leave the seed heads on your coneflowers (Echinacea) and birds will come to feed.

Plant spring bulbs now, even into November, because luckily for us, in our region the soil remains warm and root growth will occur.

‘Tis also a great time to put down shredded mulch to add winter protection for your plantings. When putting mulch around the base of trees, pull it back from being directly in contact with the trunk. In winter, mice will go under the mulch and nibble on bark, creating damage.

Do take a drive or leisurely walk. Revel in the absolutely brilliant roadside colours that Mother Nature is providing!

Photos by Joan Cope

 

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