Fall Landscaping Tips

Fall is a great time for planting. Most nurseries are having big sales this time of year to lower their inventory. I mix in compost when transplanting to help establish a good root system. Perennials should be planted by the end of October and trees by mid November. Most perennials can be divided and transplanted at this time as well. Plant bulbs after gardens beds are cleaned up by cutting back perennials and pruning shrubs as needed. I generally leave plants that provide winter interest, such as Sedum, Ornamental Grasses, Rudbeckia, and Echinacea.

To get the most enjoyment out of your flowers before winter sets in, bring potted annuals inside on cold frosty nights or cover plants with light weight sheets. Forcing bulbs indoors is an easy way to have bright colors by late winter. It usually takes 10-12 weeks for bulbs to bloom when they are stored in a cool, dry area like a basement.

To effectively winterize your garden, I recommend the following:
Spray Wilt-Pruf anti-desiccant on broadleaf evergreens to prevent leaves from drying out in cold winter winds. Rhododendrons, Mountain Laurel (Kalmia), Andromeda (Pieris), evergreen Hollies and Drooping Leucothoe are most susceptible.
Staple burlap onto stakes around larger shrubs to prevent winter wind burn. Make sure to leave a space between the foliage and burlap.
Wrap plastic tree guards around young fruit trees to prevent vole and insect damage.

If you have problems with deer eating your plants, fall is also a good time to spray plants susceptible to deer damage with Deer Off repellent or its equivalent. Plastic mesh netting around your larger shrubs is also effective deer protection. Small deciduous shrubs (those that drop their leaves in the fall, such as Azalea, Viburnum, Weigela, Lilac, Dogwood and Hydrangea) can be wrapped and tied with burlap for winter deer protection.

Late fall is the perfect time to rake leaves and thatch (the build up of grass clippings in lawn) off of your yard, and to fertilize trees, shrubs, perennials, and lawns. I use Pro-Gro 5-3-4 organic fertilizer found at local nurseries and garden centers. Test your soil’s pH, as low or high pH levels can cause nutrient deficiencies in your plants. Low pH (acidic - below 6.5) is very common in this area, and can be raised by spreading pelletized lime. Test kits for pH are sold at garden centers and are very user friendly.

Finally, don’t forget to clean, inspect and sharpen tools for next year, and to add fuel stabilizer to lawn mowers, trimmers, etc. By properly preparing your garden, lawn and tools for the winter, you will be ready when spring finally arrives!

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