The season is coming to a close: all of our perennials continue to be on sale for half price. Added to this as of October 4th are most shrubs and evergreens! As these plants are all container grown, it is still a great time to plant. Be sure to use bonemeal when planting, and continue watering right up until the frost arrives. Come visit us for some great deals! - all sales are final.
Here are some tips to help carry your garden through this chilly time of year!
1) General fall cleanup is important. Diseased plant material, including leaves that were affected by powerdery mildew and/or blackspot etc., should be swept up and discarded. Please do not put them in your compost as this will only perpetuate the fungal infection.
2) Perennial beds also need some attention at this time of year. Ornamental grasses can be tied up to prevent breakage - they will glitter and come alive with the early frosts and dustings of snow. They should then be cut back in the spring. The large leaves of some perennials will turn to mush once the frost arrives, and should thus be removed now. Other perennials can be cut back, but be sure to leave 4-6" of stem to trap some snow for insulation. More tender/borderline hardy perennials such as hibiscus, will benefit from extra mulch being mounded around their base for extra protection from the cold temperatures.
3) Dahlia, Gladiolus and Begonia tubers/bulbs should be dug soon after the frosts have killed the leaves of the plant. They should then be stored in a dry, frost free environment for the winter. Brown paper bags are the perfect storage device!
4) Terra cotta and ceramic pots should be emptied, cleaned and stored in a dry place, to avoid cracks caused by the frost.
5) Think of Christmas and plant Paper White bulbs in shallow dishes filled with small stones. Refrain from watering them until the beginning of December and they will then be in flower for Christmas day!
6) When other resources are blanketed by snow, many plants in the garden will become part of the diet for mice, rabbits and voles. The cambium layer (under the bark) is particularly desirable. Damage is most likely to occur on plants within the fruit family (ie: roses and fruit trees) and young trees, but other woody plants are easily targeted by hungry rodents. The bark of these plants can be painted with animal repellant, or wrapped with a plastic tree guard.
7) Young trees may also be susceptible to cracks caused by frost. These will occur on the south and west side of the trunk. They are caused by interior temperature changes: warm winter sun followed by bitterly cold winds. At first they may go unnoticed, but come the summer growing season, they will likely widen and allow entry for pests. These could also cause damage to the layers of bark which allow the tree to receive nutrients from the soil. To prevent these cracks this winter, use plastic tree guards or other material that will reflect heat from the winter sun.
We hope you are still enjoying your garden in these cooler temperatures!