The Garden Scoop - Fall into winter to-do's

 Fall is here and we are now looking at our depleted vegetable gardens, spent perennials and brown lawns; our trees in various stages of color and/or "balding"! Is there anything we can do right now to help tuck them in for winter? Yup, there sure is. And in particular, new plantings.

Early in the year (2024) we had flooding, then the rains stopped and we've gone weeks/months without a nice soaking rainfall. Some homeowners have watered, some (me, mostly) have not. I do water my annual container plants and also newly planted garden areas including the one pictured below. It is on the east side of my home. I'm going to have to protect my Bush Honeysuckle (diervilla) from the bunnies that live under my porch. They are lucky they're cute and I'm not a good shot! Plants include Crabapple, Bush Honeysuckle, Mammoth mum, hosta, grasses, ajuga and annuals. 

The photo below is the north side of my home and it was not the prettiest. It's about 10 ft between my house and the neighbor's driveway. I dug out, okay I didn't dig out anything but a friend with a truck and a winch pulled 3 yews out! So, now to plant something and keep in mind the dryer vent. I moved plants that I already had, basically, as placeholders for now. A spirea, hostas and sedum. The important thing I wanted was a shrub that would give me more privacy from my neighbors while sitting on my front porch, making sure it would fit into the space at maturity and the bonus of feeding the birds. I selected 'Viking' chokeberry. It grows 7 ft tall by 5 ft wide. Since it's on the western end and not as shaded by the house, it should work very well. 

New plantings, those that are 3 years and younger, need special attention going into winter. Let's assume you've been diligent about watering them. Don't stop!! Until the ground is literally frozen you need to continue to water them. Then add more mulch. Remember, DONUT not volcano. If you don't want to purchase mulch then use fallen leaves. They work very well and break down into the soil. I planted the Renaissance spirea in 2023 and will continue to mulch it through next winter. 

Add trunk/bark protection like tree guards or wraps. Take a look at these quick videos from Gertens tree expert, Brad:

Two Methods to Protect Evergreens During Winter

Winter Prep for Decidiuous Trees

If you have planted new shrubs you'll want to protect them from hungry rabbits. 

New plantings include perennials, so keep them watered well until ground freeze and give them plenty of mulch. Gertens expert, Sheila, shares information on whether to cut back perennials in the fall or springtime.

Fall Perennial Care

I have always chosen to cut back my perennials in spring. My neighbor's Red Oak tree delivers plenty of leaf mulch to my rain garden which, in spring I will pick some up and compost the slimy wet stuff! Not necessarily a chore for the squeamish. Red Oak are the last to let go of their leaves. 

I enjoy "Winterest". And I also use it to add protection to some plants. This year that will include the new crabapple I planted on the south side. Below you see a photo I took a couple of years ago for this newly planted crabapple. It's thriving now. Use what ya got, right?!

While there are all kinds of predictions for our upcoming winter, let's all agree it's a time of rest for our landscapes and ourselves.

Here's to hot cocoa (or your choice of beverage) and gently falling snow,

The Garden Scoop