Fall is a great time to be outdoors in the garden, the temperatures are perfect and the colors can be amazing. If you’re looking for projects which will extend the gardening season and give you a reason to be outside, fear not, there’s still plenty to do.

As the season moves along, perennials and annuals should be deadheaded, even right though the early fall months. Further along, towards late fall, these plants need to be cut back to the ground as they begin to die back. Though this can wait until spring I like to do it in the late fall, there are too many other projects to worry about in the spring. Late fall is the ideal time to cut back your perennial garden as some perennials, though finished blooming, have great fall colors. Let them stand until the end of the season. Some, such as Balloon Flower and Astilbe turn beautiful shades of yellow and gold. Others retain their striking form and develop interesting seed heads, such as black eyed Susan and Sedum “Autumn Joy”.

As the annuals die or begin to look a bit spent, remove them and add them to your compost pile. There a few fall blooming plants that you can replace them with . Aster and chrysanthemum are the most common. They can add vibrant color to your garden up until late November.

Avoid pruning shrubs too late into the season, this can often encourage new growth which may be susceptible to winter kill if it did not have tine harden off. After deciduous shrubs become dormant in the winter pruning is fine for general shaping.

Examine your garden, are there any shrubs which are outgrowing their allotted space? Fall is a great time for transplanting shrubs. The cooler weather results in less stress for a newly transplanted shrub. There’s generally more rain in the fall as well which also helps reduce stress. Plant new shrubs during the fall for the same reasons. Especially since you may be able to find great deals during late season sales at your local nursery. Be sure to stake new trees and shrubs which may vulnerable during winter snows.

Plant bulbs before the ground freezes, they’re are a great way to add early spring color to the garden. Bulbs are also great way to naturalize your landscape. Daffodils, scilla, and bluebells are wonderful when planted beneath a large shade tree. Tulips and hyacinths are better suited to for formal settings such as a perennial border.

After the ground is frozen, cover plants which require winter protection with hay or evergreen branches, especially in areas that are cold but have little snow. Perennials will benefit from winter protection.

Though things seem to be winding down as the winter approaches, a quick walk through the garden will reveal a number of project still to be done.

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Cool nights and warm days are what we are feeling now. It is a great time to plant just about anything. For color pansies, snapdragons, dianthus, calendula, and stock will bloom thru winter, especially if they are planted next to a building or house. You can plant just about any type of tree or shrub. October gardening in cool weather is the perfect time to plant your tree!

The soil stays warm, which will help keep roots growing. The above ground temperatures are cooling down considerably, which reduces the need for constant watering. This combination will help get these plant a real good jump start for next spring.

Palm trees, small oleanders, red bird of paradise may do better if planted in the spring, summer, as opposed to fall and winter. Our sub freezing temps may injure these plants if planted too late. You may use a “winterizer” fertilizer to help protect less hardy specimen or valued plants that may get winter damage. This type of fertilizer has a higher amount of potash.

Potash will help strengthen winter hardiness in most plants. Don’t forget to reduce watering on established plants during this time of year. If they are watered too much at this time of year they may produce “lush” growth which is subject to winter damage.

This does not mean you need to stop watering. Most plants will need occasional watering in the winter months. Watering 2 to 3 times per month during the winter months will suffice.

Do not fertilize after October 31st, except for cool season grasses. Again as mentioned above pansies, and viola’s will provide you with winter color from now until next spring (April, May). If you have any questions please email us at

www.guzmansgreenhouse.com/seasons/octobergardentips.htm

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Gary & Paul Guzman are the authors of this article:
Gary is the owner and Color Your World Nurseries Located in Las Cruces, NM.
Paul is the webmaster of guzmansgreenhouse.com
Comments should be sent to mgr@guzmansgreenhouse.com

Tip! All in all it does not matter if you’re into practical gardening gifts or the whimsical variety. Garden centers and gardening shops stock many different items that can serve as gardening gifts or gardening supplies.

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Filed under gardening tips by grammydeb

Tags: cool season grasses, ground temperatures, jerry seinfeld, winter damage, winter color

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May 29, 2007

Tips for Gardening

Tip! Buy seeds, seed starting kits and gardening supplies for vegetable gardens. If you are new to gardening, starting vegetables from seed may be too huge an undertaking, instead purchase plants.

Gardening can be a great pastime that can really pay off. Imagine the looks on your guests’ faces when they realize that the meal that they are eating came directly from your own backyard garden! To that end, we’ve created this article to help you learn more about ways to get your garden growing to its full potential.

Tip! Visit Gardening Information website and learn proven gardening tips.

- When watering your garden, it’s best to do it early in the morning or in the early evening. More of the water is absorbed due to the fact that evaporation isn’t as prevalent when the sun isn’t shining with its full intensity.

- Are bugs a problem with your garden? Few people realize that there are plants that you can grow that will help you to ward off pesky insects. If ants are attacking your garden, try planting mint, tansy, or pennyroyal nearby. These herbs have chemical defenses that cause the ants to stay away. If slugs are chowing down on your garden, plant either prostrate rosemary or wormwood nearby.

- Proper soil is key to keeping your garden growing properly. To that end, you need to ensure that your garden has the proper levels of three key nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Nitrogen helps the plants to grow their leaves and stems properly and too little can result in small plants while too much may lead to plants with huge stems and leaves but a lack of flowers or fruit. Phosphorous is a key nutrient when it comes to growth of the roots in plants. It is also useful in helping bulbs to flower. Potassium, the last key element in good soil, is responsible for the overall health of the plant. It is useful in the immune function of the plants and also the general growth.

Tip! Top 10 Indoor Gardening Tips for Jerry Seinfeld…and the rest of us! 1. Plants will ‘reach’ toward a light source, so rotate your plant occasionally to promote straight growth.

- If weeds are a problem for your garden, there is a solution that requires little work on your part. Using a substance known as a ‘pre-emergent herbicide’ can be a godsend to those who wish to keep their garden weed free. This type of herbicide affects only plants that are beginning to germinate, so all plants that are already at least 3 inches tall will not be affected by the herbicide. Basically, you need to weed the garden as best you can, and then apply the herbicide to ensure that no new weeds will grow. This is the easiest method for maintaining a weed-free garden with little work.

Tip! Visit Gardening Information websites and learn proven gardening tips. You will also discover which gardening tools match the tasks in your garden.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Women, Tennis, and Arts

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Filed under gardening tips by grammydeb

Tags: pesky insects, purchase plants, proper soil, plants gardening, good soil

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