Denny's Soapbox

Let’s get the landscape ready for winter

There are a few easy projects that you can do late fall that will pay dividends next spring. Many of these can be done during halftimes.

* Clean up all Perennials

Cut your Perennials back to the ground when the leaves have turned brown. The old foliage can be a safe haven for wintering over bugs and bug eggs. Bag the old growth and discard.

* Cut Annuals off at the Ground

As the frost finishes off your annuals, take your spade and slice off the tops of the plants at the ground. Let the roots remain in your soil. They will breakdown and help enrich your soil for next year and sure beats pulling the roots up and making that mess.

* Grass Keeps Growing, you Keep Mowing

Sorry guys, but there’s no special date that you stop mowing your lawn. A few years ago, due to very mild weather, grass was still being mowed in early December. Last fall, the mowing was over by early November. Do not cut your grass xtra short for the winter. Leave your grass at its normal cutting height.

* Remove Fallen Leaves from Beds and Lawns

Do not allow the leaves from your trees to cover the ground in your beds or the grass plants in the lawn. Accumulated leaves cut off any natural moisture to the soil and the leaves will smother the grass. You can mulch up your leaves with your lawn mower but not to a point where your shredded leaves are covering the grass. Do not pile leaves around your trees. The bark does not want wet leaves against it all winter. Compost or remove your leaves in your best manner.

* Loosen Existing Hardwood Mulch

Just like fallen leaves keep moisture from helping our plants in the landscape during the winter, hardwood mulch forms a crust after it’s been down a couple of months forming the same barrier. Break the crust with a garden cultivator i.e. garden weasel or a garden hook.

* Fertilize Lawn Mid-November

The best two times to feed your lawn is early September and Mid-November. Whether you fed in September and or not, do feed your lawn this November. Use a fertilizer that has readily available Nitrogen (no time release) and put down at least one pound of Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft. The grass plants will absorb the Nitrogen and store till next spring. Your lawn will have good winter color and a great spring green up.

* Plant some Spring Bulbs for Great Color

Spring bulbs have to be planted in the fall. They also bloom better when planted in the soil than left in paper bags on the kitchen sink. If deer like to visit your yard, plant Narcissus. They bloom in mid-April and they’re deer proof.

* Fertilize Trees and Shrubs in Mid-November

Just like your lawn, your landscape plants would appreciate a late fall feeding. The plants will store the fertilizer and give you great growth next spring. Use a quick release fertilizer i.e.: 10-10-10, 12-12-12 or 10-6-4 and apply to the soil according to the instructions on the bag. Feeding in the spring is good, feeding in the fall is better.

* Winterize your Roses (Except Knock Outs)

When the leaves on your roses start to fall, mulch the first 6 to 8 inches of the canes with garden soil, or bark mulch, or composted leaves. This practice will cover the rose bud union that’s at the bottom of the canes. Do not prune your roses now. You’ll do your pruning in early spring. Climbers are the exception. They’ll bloom next year on growth that grew this year. Only prune damaged or over grown canes on your climbers next spring. Have Knock Outs? Stay on the couch. Nothing to do with them until you cut them back to 8 to 10 inches in mid-March.

See that’s not too bad. The above projects are easy and can be very rewarding to you and your landscape.