In the Garden: gardening in the fall

In the Garden

Gardening in the fall

By tina will

photo by alejandro calixio

I find it fitting that the warm colors of Autumn encourage us to build fires and anticipate colder weather. What can be done in the lawn or garden?

Mow your leaves instead of raking; they will disappear into the lawn and decompose much more quickly. If you rake and collect them, don't send them bagged to the landfill; find a neighbor who will compost them.

Planting bulbs for Spring color is called for, and those without a deer problem can plant tulips. We have to stick to daffodils, but I'm fine with that. Spreading cow manure and mowed leaves adds organic matter to the root zones of our plantings and lawn grasses thus strengthening the roots. Our weather is usually mild enough that we can also plant trees and shrubs now before the ground freezes. Roots have time to grow slowly and establish themselves while the ground is still warm. Choose native plants that will satisfy the needs of our native pollinators. Good choices include Wood Aster, Goldenrod, Milkweed, Winterberry, Oak trees, American Holly, Redbud, and many more. Our resource for guidance on what to plant in our area is online and can be downloaded too, if desired: www.plantvirginianatives.org/nativeplants-for-central-rapp/.

Spotted Lanternfly At the Fredericksburg Fair this year, we advertised the coming of the Spotted Lanternfly. It hasn't been seen here in abundance yet, but it will only be a few seasons before we do. It is a plant hopper, not a fly, native to Asia, and is an invasive, destructive pest with a wide range of hosts including grapes, apples, hops, maple and walnut. The nymphs and adults pierce the stems and feed on the sap. Virginia fruit growers are anticipating a lot of damage. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is one of its favorite egg laying trees; if you have one, consider getting rid of it! Pennsylvanians have seen a HEAVY infestation.

New Master Gardeners Just before the Thanksgiving holiday our newest Master Gardener class finishes their training. We are looking forward to getting to know them and involving them in our projects in 2022. One of their first opportunities will be to help out with our Seed Swap on January 29, 2022 which is also National Seed Swap Day. We are planning to meet in person again at the Rowser Building, and hope you will save your seeds, bring them, and trade them for more 2022 choices. As the date gets closer, more information will be on our website: www.mgacra.org/events.html, and

on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MGACRA/. Boxwood

I have written about Boxwood blight in recent years, and it is still a problem, but new resistant varieties have been developed that do not succumb readily to that disease. Boxwood wreaths can still be made as long as one is careful to choose healthy shrubs. Master Gardeners will be making and selling a limited number of Boxwood wreaths through RAAI this year in early December. We are grateful for this opportunity to support RAAI.

Have a Happy and Thankful Thanksgiving!

photo by brian will photo by tina will

Tina Will is a Master Gardener and lives in Stafford County. She can be reached at brianandtina.will@gmail.com