Is your garden ready to hibernate?
Tidy up your landscape in the fall, so that your garden has the green light to fall into a deep winter slumber. The more items you check off of our list now means a more beautiful song that your garden will sing in the spring.
Proper feeding for the fall – As our perennials, shrubs, and trees prepare for the winter, it is important that we give them plenty of nutrients to rejuvenate their roots after the heat of the summer. My Thyme Gardens has a “secret sauce” that fertilizes and nourishes all the microbes in the soil.
Remember to water – Our plants are storing up energy for the winter, and fall watering is one of the ways they can do that. Many of our evergreens need water; even a few sips throughout the winter is plenty to keep them hydrated and happy.
Divide plants – Fall is the perfect time to divide those plants that are not producing as well, or just getting overcrowded. Some of our favorites to divide at this time are daylilies, Hostas, and ornamental grasses.
Clear up diseased plant material – (anything with fungi or viruses) so it doesn’t return to the soil and continue damaging your precious plants. Peonies and other perennials are particularly susceptible to powdery mildew, which can be identified by a silvery dusting on the leaves. Xanthomonas is another disease that is common to these same plants as well; look out for reddish brown spots on their leaves.
Plant fall bulbs – If springtime in your garden isn’t as punchy and vibrant as your neighbors’, consider a few pops of color to spice things up. Fall is the best time to install spring bulbs for color. Feeling unsure about the process? We would love to give you a complimentary spring color assessment.
Leaf care – Leaves on your lawn can be a problem, but leaves in your garden can be a boost. As the leaves break down, they become food for the worms below the soil, and help to aerate our often compacted clay soil. At the same time, there is such a thing as too many leaves. We are happy to help you navigate this stage of putting the gardens to bed and keeping them tidy.
Fall Cutdown – Perennials can be cut down to tidy the overall appearance of your fall and winter gardens. Yet, in some cases, it is best to leave them up for the winter, for reasons such as winter interest, nesting material, food for the birds and critters, and for flowering purposes (like with hydrangeas).
Pruning – Shrubbery, bushes, and decorative plants require trimming to promote growth and maintain their proper shape. You get bonus points for renovation pruning, which means taking old, overgrown shrubs and pruning them to encourage new growth and prolific flowering.
Mulching – This helps with weed prevention and retains moisture for the roots. Mulch will eventually break down and absorb into the soil, improving its structure and giving it nutrients.
Edging – Establishing or re-establishing a sharp, clear line between your lawn and your garden beds. We prefer the natural edging method, which is a trough that is about 2-3 inches wide and deep. It need to be re-established every 2-4 years, but it is a cost-saving method. Other edging methods include the black diamond and the aluminum edging; they often crack and break, not holding up well.
Weeding – Fall weeding is the secret to a happy spring. Leaving weeds in your garden will allow them to go to seed. They will lay dormant throughout the winter, and then burst out and take over your garden in the spring! Clean them up in the fall for a spring with less weeds.
Our spring cleanup schedule can fill up fast. If you don’t get on the list in time, we can provide you a thorough fall cleanup, and you can skip your spring cleanup. Visit our contact us page on our website!
