14 15
Plant garlic. 7
8 9
Plant ornamental bulbs. This is the time to plant all those lovely tulips and daffodils and even hyacinths (although in colder zones you may need to mulch this bulb). Little blue
grape hyacinth (Muscari) are very hardy and prolific and look wonderful planted with daf- fodils. Other bulbs for fall planting include the tiny squill, brilliant foxtail lily and crocus. Don’t forget allium, lots of allium, with their lovely mauve-to-blue globe shaped flowers.
Plant shrubs and trees. Fall is a good time to put in woody plants – just remem- ber to water them well before freeze up – as
it gives roots time to establish well while the ground is still warm and gives the plants a head start in spring. Fall is also a good time to plant trees and shrubs when your aware- ness of fall colour is high.
Care for your lawn. Fall is lawn care time. Aerate every second or third year (this can be as easy as using a pitchfork to open up soil to a
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depth of about six inches at one-foot intervals across the lawn). Instead of bagging leaves, shred them with your mower and allow them to compost in your lawn to return nutrients that will benefit both the lawn and the trees they fell from. Add a top dressing of gypsum to your lawn and water it in well. It will soften the ground and allow moisture penetration. Once it gets cold and the lawn is dormant, you can lay down fertilizer which will be in place to nourish your lawn in spring. Seeding can take place up to snowfall.
Empty flower containers. The soilless mixes many people use in flower containers
make a great addition to the perennial gar- den, adding organic matter and Perlite to help drainage. You don’t want to reuse this material in your pots as it contains no nutri- ents except those that are added to the origi- nal mixture and which will all be used up by now. Next year, if you don’t want to empty every pot, use a mix of the soilless product and actual garden soil. Nutrition comes from
24 • Beautiful Gardens 2012
the minerals in the soil. It is the action of microorganisms breaking down the organ- ics that helps release those minerals from the soil. If the potted mix is root-bound and stays
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in a clump, don’t worry. It will be easy to break down in springtime after the cold and frost have had time to work it over.
Clean up, tidy up. Dispose of any dis- eased plant material. Don’t compost plants
covered in powdery mildew or any of the fungal diseases. Don’t mulch diseased leaves. To prevent apple maggot build up, you
should have been picking up fallen apples as soon as this began to occur. If you haven’t been keeping this up, it’s too late now as the maggots will already by resting underground. The apples will not hurt the soil; they will re- turn nturients to the apple tree roots. If you feel compelled to cut back peren-
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nials, go ahead, but you can also leave them to overwinter where they are will nourish your soil and provide places for ladybugs and spiders to hide – both garden friends, remember. The debris will also help snow to collect and protect root crowns this winter. You can clean up plant skeletons in springtime.
Plug holes or other entry sites for rodents and insects. Use one of the pres- surized foams to plug likely entry spots for overwintering critters. You can also sprin- kle Turkey Trot (a turkey manure fertilizer) around foundations to deter animal infesta- tions.
Turn over vegetable garden soil and add Claybuster. Use a fork to turn over garden soil in large clumps. You can do
this in perennial beds that are not overly planted. You can add a sprinkling of Clay- buster (gypsum or calcium sulfate,) which will help the soil break down over winter. In springtime it will be very easy to work
D
with what was once hard, compacted soil. It will now be soft, friable and easy to man- age. Claybuster or gypsum can also be add- ed to lawns.
Clean bird feeders and bird baths. This is a good time to take bird feeders in and give them a really good clean-up before re-
filling and rehanging them. By now, hum- mers will have headed south, so you can clean and sterilize their feeders in readiness for next spring. Scrub birdbaths to remove any moss or mould that may have accumu- lated. Store them upside down to prevent damage from freezing and thawing snow.
Cover large flower containers. A sim- ple way to protect large clay or ceramic con- tainers is to let them dry out and then cover
them with a plastic garbage bag to prevent them from getting wet and being damaged by the freeze-thaw cycle of early spring or unseasonable thaws.
Do you need more topsoil?
ifferent types of topsoil include clay, sandy loam and 50-50 mixes. To im-
prove nutrient levels in a clay-based soil, a sandy topsoil along with added organic matter will improve the overall aeration, moisture, acidity and pH levels. Testing the soil will indicate what type is required to maximize growing requirements. Calculate how much topsoil is needed
before beginning a project. The topsoil should be a deep shade of brown and free of excess debris. Choose the right topsoil for the area and know which minerals (like lime, sulfur or fertilizers) have been added. Most contractors offer two basic types:
a topsoil for lawns and a topsoil for gar- dens. Avoid getting the delivery dumped on top of your grass, as the excess dirt can kill your lawn within a week. Topsoil is different than fill dirt, which is used to fill in holes or other crevices in yards.
How to band a tree B
and by September 15 to capture the fall female canker worm. Banding
for the spring female and this should be done about March 15. Renew the Tan- glefoot again in spring. Cut a six-inch wide band of insulation material long enough to wrap around the tree trunk. Place the insulation side on the bark so that the foil is on the outside. Staple the band to the tree trunk three
to four feet from the ground. Be careful to fit the insulation into the bark to pres- ent a barrier to crawling insects. Spread a layer of Tanglefoot on the
band to trap insects that attempt to climb over the band. Tree canopies often touch, offering a bridge
to worms harboured in neighbouring trees. Encourage neighbours to band along with you to protect the entire neighbourhood.
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