As we ease into winter, another season of gardening draws to
a close. Before you store your gardening
gloves and forget what dirt under your
fingernails looks like, take a few minutes this month to wrap up some simple
garden tasks to finish the year strong.
Last month I wrote about steps you can take this fall for a
healthy lawn through winter and into next spring. If you didn’t have time in
October to get everything done, keep in mind that you can treat for moss and
turf-damaging grubs or worms at any time—it’s never too late to keep your lawn
healthy! Likewise, “winterizing” fertilizer can be applied anytime this month or next to feed your lawn through the winter months and into spring.
With the last of the leaves falling, take some time in the
next couple of weeks to do a final clean-up of your yard. If the rain hasn’t
plastered fallen leaves in place on your grass and flowerbeds yet, it will
soon, so don’t expect a good wind storm will take care of things. A little
effort in raking can save a lot of headache of dealing with dead grass next
spring—leaves left to rot on your lawn can rot your grass right along with.
Additionally, while leaves do provide some insulation to the plants in your
beds, they may harbor insect eggs, mold spores or other diseases. So, while
fallen leaves can serve a purpose in your flowerbeds, the risks often outweigh
the benefits. In other words, grab your rake and get to work!
If you do have tender plants that could benefit from some
protection around their roots this winter, insulate them with a layer of fine-
or medium-grade bark. The mulch will keep your plants safe while allowing for
proper drainage, and in the spring, you can spread the extra bark around your
flowerbeds.
As for pruning, take some time this month to prune back only
the plants that might be at risk of damage in a wind or snow storm this winter,
including roses. Our long, warm summer this year helped roses grow beautifully,
but left unpruned, tall rose canes can break off in a northeaster or under the
weight of snow. With roses, prune your bushes back halfway after the leaves
begin to fall or around Thanksgiving, whichever comes first. Likewise, other
plants in your yard that may be at risk of breaking in inclement weather may
benefit from a similar pruning this month.
When you’re done with your garden tools for the season,
prepare them for a winter’s rest by cleaning them and oiling any metal surfaces
to prevent rust. Garden tools today are often treated as throwaway
conveniences, but with a little bit of care, a good quality tool should last
for years. If you’re really looking for a way to keep your tools in prime
condition, use a bastard file to sharpen the blades of your shovels or hoe.
Typically, even new shovels only have a semi-sharp blade, so you’ll be
impressed how much easier digging can be next spring when you haul out your
freshly-sharpened tools!
Finally, before you forget all your successes (and failures)
from the past year, make some notes of what worked and what you could have
improved in your gardening endeavors over the last year. Gardening can involve
a lot of trial and error, so take a minute to journal your results for next
season.
Soon, the holiday season will be in full swing, so wrap up
another year of gardening with a strong finish.
Just a quick note to all who may be eager for the Christmas season--