Cleaning Up the Fall Garden

This time of year sure starts showing the skeleton of a garden. The leaves drop off and leave bare branches. Flowers fade leaving dullness. Gardens and patios...


Item # 99330 		Zinnia grandiflora
Prairie Zinnia

each $5.49
3 to 6 plants $5.29
7 or more $4.99

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This time of year sure starts showing the skeleton of a garden. The leaves drop off and leave bare branches. Flowers fade leaving dullness. Gardens and patios look bedraggled.

While some plants might still be putting out blooms, now’s the time to start cleaning things up so you can start over again next year. The following is a check list for your fall clean-up:

  • Bring houseplants inside that have summered in the garden and repot the ones that have outgrown their containers.
  • Drain garden pools and birdbaths. Remove water plants; seal root ball in a garbage bag and store in a cool place.
  • Prune dead branches on trees. Torn wounds and dead wood are places where insects like to hibernate and lay eggs.
  • Install simple windbreaks to protect new plantings from winter weather.
  • After a heavy frost, remove all blackened plants such as zinnias, petunias and marigolds. Destroy stems that have had diseased foliage.
  • Clean garden tools so they will be ready for next season. There is nothing like starting out with clean trowels and snippers in the spring.
  • Clear out the annual beds.
  • Properly store seeds, fertilizers and garden chemicals where they won’t freeze.
  • Drain and store garden hoses.
  • Oil hinges on garden gates.

Fall cleaning is a lot of work, but it’s always so satisfying when it’s done. Now’s the time to also get a head start with fertilizing and mulching. During the last Soil Mender sale I stocked up, so I’m ready to start the heavy work. But more on that next week.