Take Steps Now for a Great Spring

Like it or not, I think it’s safe to say our summer is over. If you haven’t yet started fall cleanup in your yard, you probably will soon—and in another month or so, the last of the yard work will be complete and you can put your garden tools to rest until spring.

Before you call it quits, though, there are a few items I would encourage you to add to your “to do” list—accomplishing them yet this fall will give your lawn and garden a great start next year. 

First, have you planted any bulbs? Whether you can boast having a green thumb or not, there’s no question you can grow spring bulbs—they’re just plain easy. But if you want to enjoy the color that daffodils, tulips and other bulbs provide in early spring, you need to start planting now. At Vander Giessen Nursery, we carry a great selection of early- to mid-spring bloomers that will finish up just when you’re ready to start planting your other annuals. 

If you have doubts that bulbs are easy to grow, consider the steps: dig a small hole, drop in a bulb, add a little bit of bone meal to fertilize and backfill the hole. No need to water, no additional fertilizing later. You’re done. With the exception of cacti and succulents—and most don’t grow here anyway—there are very few plants that need such little care. So if you haven’t, find a place to plant some bulbs for early spring color in your yard.

Secondly, now is a great time to add lime to your lawn. In order to keep your grass thick and healthy—and keep moss from taking over—you need to make applying lime a regular part of your yearly schedule. This summer, I attended a couple of weddings at the beautiful Evergreen Gardens south of Lynden. If you’ve ever been there, you’ve undoubtedly seen the lush lawns growing amongst the stately evergreens. If you have any shade on your yard, you know how tough it can be to keep grass growing there. Evergreen Gardens’ secret is lime—and lots of it. Shade or not, adding high doses of lime to your lawn multiple times a year will help keep grass thick and lush, even in shade. As we get into the “rainy season,” stop at your favorite local nursery to pick up Super Sweet lime for your yard. In just a few weeks, it will activate to help your fertilizer work better and keep moss at bay.

Third, hold off on your fall fertilizer for just a few more weeks. Chances are you’ve probably seen and heard the box stores advertizing fall fertilizer for the last month or more, but for our area, it’s still too early to apply it. Fall fertilizer is designed to store nutrients in the grass as well as promote root growth for a quick green-up in spring, so for many parts of the country, that means applying in September or October as lawns go dormant. Around here, however, grass grows into November, so I encourage you to wait. Apply Scotts Super Turf Builder Winterguard in mid-November to see the best results—and if you’ve already done it, you may need to reapply. 

Finally, October is still a great month to plant shrubs, trees and perennials. Fall clearance pricing continues at many local nurseries, so take advantage of deep discounts to fill some holes in your landscaping.  

This month, take a few simple steps to make next spring beautiful. With minimal effort, you’ll have a healthy lawn and colorful flowerbeds as another new season begins.