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Cornell University : Cornell Cooperative Extension
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| Yates Association |
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Putting Your Garden to Bed |
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October 23, 2001 The cold
weather has really arrived and fall is definitely here! Most of the
vegetables should have been harvested before that heavy frost a couple
of weeks ago, although some hardy ones will continue to produce. Delicate
flowers have shriveled, leaving behind rotting stems and leaves. Taking
care of the garden waste now is the best way to be ready to plant
in the spring. Whether
you are working in a vegetable garden or a flower garden, you should
remove all annuals. Some (like marigolds and tomatoes!) will reseed
if you let the flowers/fruit stay on the plant or ground, so be aware
of your needs and wants. The "leftover" plant parts can
be composted if they are not diseased. Perennial
plants may need to be divided and transplanted. Some people like to
leave some sturdy perennials alone for the winter months. Coneflower
and Black-eyed Susans will provide some winter food for the birds,
and they also offer an interesting shape and style to the winter garden.
Tall grasses will also add interest, and should not be cut back unless
they start to look messy. Some
herbs are hardy and can survive the winter. Others will need to be
repotted. If you haven't repotted them already, you know by now which
ones were very sensitive! Just follow the annual or perennial guidelines
that have just been discussed. Having some pots of herbs in the kitchen
during the winter months is a great way to keep the fresh taste of
the garden throughout the cold season. If you have not planted herbs
outdoors, but have always been meaning to, this would be a good time
to start some indoors, and then you will be ready to transplant them
next spring! Getting
rid of weeds is very important especially if they have produced seeds!
You will want to handle the plants carefully so the seeds are not
knocked off the plant more than they already are, and put them into
a compost pile only if you are sure the compost is or will be hot.
If the compost pile is cool, the seeds will stay viable. Spreading
this compost on next year's garden will give you more than you bargained
for! If you
are planning to increase the size of your garden, this may be the
year for you to try the Lasagna Layering method. If you have not already
tried it, Lasagna Layering is the process of building good, healthy
soil. Start with wet newspapers (4-5 sheets thick) layered right on
top of your sod. (If your garden is especially weedy, or you know
the soil is poor, you can start the process right on top of the existing
garden.) Layer peat moss and organic matter (grass clippings, leaves,
barn litter, composted material) until you have a bed that is about
18-24 inches high. The organic matter will decompose throughout the
rest of the fall and winter (even though the process is very slow
in winter), and you will be able to plant in the new bed in the spring! Some
of your shrubs may need some care in the fall, too. Wrap windbreaks
around those plants that have great exposure to wind and cold. Some
azaleas need the extra protection. If you are not sure of the hardiness
of the plant, take the time to wrap it. Losing a shrub is such a disappointment! Fall
is also the time to mulch some perennial beds. Strawberries need a
good layer of straw or other mulch like compost, leaves, or shredded
bark. Little critters like mice like the straw mulch, too, so be aware
of what lives in your garden! Fall
is the time to rake leaves, but remember that some beds will like
the extra leaf cover. You will want to remove the leaves from deck
and walks, however. They may discolor the area, and when wet they
are very slippery. Be sure to compost the leaves if they are not diseased.
If your children like to jump in the leaves, be aware that sometimes
ticks, beetles and other "creatures" like the protection
that leaves offer. Be sure to check your children for any of the critters
that may hang onto them when the leaf jumping is completed. Garden
debris is not the only part of getting ready for winter. Next week's
article will deal with putting away some of the gardening tools and
equipment. Master Gardeners are available to answer your gardening
questions on Friday mornings by calling the Cornell Cooperative Extension
office in Yates County at 315-536-5123. Cornell
Cooperative Extension Yates Association |
