FALL INTO GARDENING Preparing for Autumn's Cooler Days Story by Sue Burns
It may still be 105 degrees outside, but autumn really is on its way, and now is the best time to plan for your garden’s transition. Tulare-Kings Counties Master Gardener Peyton Ellas shares that she actually thinks of the garden year “…not from January-December, but from autumn to autumn, since so much of our garden creation and recreation happens in the fall. The first half of September is preparation, and the second half is when the action really begins.” So find a cozy spot, settle in with a glass of something cold, and let your thoughts wander to crisp days dotted with jewel-toned leaves drifting on cool breezes into pumpkin and sunflower-filled fields. Imagine the flowers and cool weather crops you’d like to plant and make your list of fall to-dos.
FALL CARE FOR PERENNIALS Perennials—flowering plants that will live longer than two seasons—require some TLC as they enter their dormant period. Their leaves may turn brown and drop; leave this as cover and protection for the plant’s crown. A layer of mulch will provide additional defense. Keep watering the plants so their roots stay healthy. Fall is the perfect time to divide clumps of perennials to keep them flowering well. Gently dig up the root system, shake off as much soil as possible, and remove dead leaves and stems. Pull apart perennials with fibrous roots (such as chrysanthemums) by hand, or cut with a spade. Other perennials, like daylilies, grow woody with age; you may need a shovel or ax to separate them. To care for your roses, let the flowers develop into rose hips (the fruits or seed pods of the plant that form from a bloom left on the plant until the petals fall off). Hold off on fertilizing and heavy pruning now, as this encourages new growth, but do trim dead wood and overly long canes, and remove dead leaves and debris under the plants. This will make January pruning easier. Check the plants for pests and diseases like mosaic virus, which are most noticeable in fall and spring. If only a small area of the plant is affected, remove the mottled leaves.
The New Beginnings Issue
