Gardening tips

Fall gardening tips

- Clean, oil, and store lawn mowers.
- Paint any garden structures that need it.
- Clean up and burn diseased plants, spread manure, and plow the garden.
- Rake up the fallen leaves and use them as mulch for flowers and shrubs. Hardwood leaves such as oak and chestnut contain more plant food than those from softwood trees but they tend to compact. Shred them, if possible.

Mulching is one of the best lines of defense for perennial plants against chilling temperatures. Mulching also can prevent the repeated freezing and thawing of soil that causes plants to "heave" out of the ground. Mulching needs to be done after the ground starts to freeze but before the first significant snowfall of the year. Apply a layer at least three to four inches thick around each plant.

To protect evergreens from cold, biting winter winds, build a windbreak. Place posts in the ground on the sides most prone to seasonal winds (usually north and west), and wrap with old feed sacks or burlap. Avoid plastic as this will heat up, causing the plants to burn on sunny days.

Winter sun can scald newly planted trees. Protect them by wrapping the trunks with special tree wrapping tape, which you can buy at most garden centres. Add four to six inches of shredded bark, wood chips, or leaves around the base of the tree. After applying, gently pull mulch away from the base. Wrapping also provides some protection against hungry mice.

MORE GARDENING TIPS
Raising from seed
Tips on seed sowing and harvesting
Squirrel problems
Earwig problems
Fall Gardening Tips
How to care for Christmas plants
Winter Indoor Gardening Tips
Spring gardening tips

Gardening Tips Home \| Objectives \| Calendar \| Projects \| Membership \| Discount \| Executive \| News Exhibitions \| Pictures \| Gardens \| Tips \| Links \| Sponsors \| Guestbook \| Contact Fall gardening tips - Clean, oil, and store lawn mowers. - Paint any garden structures that need it. - Clean up and burn diseased plants, spread manure, and plow the garden. - Rake up the fallen leaves and use them as mulch for flowers and shrubs. Hardwood leaves such as oak and chestnut contain more plant food than those from softwood trees but they tend to compact. Shred them, if possible. Mulching is one of the best lines of defense for perennial plants against chilling temperatures. Mulching also can prevent the repeated freezing and thawing of soil that causes plants to "heave" out of the ground. Mulching needs to be done after the ground starts to freeze but before the first significant snowfall of the year. Apply a layer at least three to four inches thick around each plant. To protect evergreens from cold, biting winter winds, build a windbreak. Place posts in the ground on the sides most prone to seasonal winds (usually north and west), and wrap with old feed sacks or burlap. Avoid plastic as this will heat up, causing the plants to burn on sunny days. Winter sun can scald newly planted trees. Protect them by wrapping the trunks with special tree wrapping tape, which you can buy at most garden centres. Add four to six inches of shredded bark, wood chips, or leaves around the base of the tree. After applying, gently pull mulch away from the base. Wrapping also provides some protection against hungry mice. MORE GARDENING TIPS Raising from seed Tips on seed sowing and harvesting Squirrel problems Earwig problems Fall Gardening Tips How to care for Christmas plants Winter Indoor Gardening Tips Spring gardening tips