Fall Gardening To-Do List
By the time fall rolls around, it is often difficult to remember the enthusiasm and excitement we had for gardening in the spring.   But before putting the shovels and rakes, lawn mowers and hoses away for the winter, we must first tend to a few items.  The following tasks cannot be done all at once or in a few short hours.  But in the cooler days of fall, knowing that winter is right around the corner, we might want to spend as much time outdoors as possible and therefore, this list provides us the opportunity to do just that.   Products, as well as advice, to help you complete these fall gardening tasks may be obtained at Phelan Gardens.  Stop by and see us.

Gardens
  • Keep lightweight fabric (sheets NOT plastic) on hand to gentle place over plants when frost is expected so your garden will be protected from early frosts and you can spend the Indian Summer enjoying the landscape.
  • After a light frost, dig up summer flowering bulbs, such as dahlias, cannas, tuberous begonias and gladiolas. Store in sawdust or vermiculite in a cool place
  • Check any outdoor plants being brought inside for insects—wash thoroughly and/or treat with insecticide if necessary
  • Reduce watering schedule for gardens and lawns
  • Protect grafted roses with rose collars or composted mulch after light  frost
  • Cut back dead foliage from perennials to about 4–6” from the ground and apply a layer of mulch—(Exception: ornamental grasses or flowers with unique seedheads that add winter interest—cut these back in the spring)
  • Wait until after a light freeze to divide and relocate late flowering perennials
  • Mulch plants installed this season—these plants need extra protection for their first winter
  • Collect seeds from your garden favorites or native plants—store these in a cool, dry spot in the refrigerator
  • Add soil conditioner (peat moss, fresh manure or leaves) into annual flower and vegetable garden prior to tilling under
  • Seed hardy perennials for spring germination—be sure to mark the spots so they will not be tilled over in the spring
  • Label any herbaceous perennials that might be mistaken for weeds when they emerge in the spring
  • A good fall clean up makes the garden look better and gives insects and disease no place to hide in winter 
Trees and Shrubs
  • Wrap young deciduous trees (2” caliper or under 3 years) with tree wrap after leaves fall to protect them from temperature swings Colorado is notorious for having in the winter months—water well at least once a month during the winter
  • Rake and dispose of Aspen leaves to help prevent the spread of inkspot (fungus)—other non-diseased leaves can be raked and used as mulch
  • Relocate late flowering shrubs that need to be moved after first light freeze
  • Plant trees, shrubs, perennials and spring bulbs 
Lawn Care
  • Apply winterizer fertilizer to the lawn in mid-October—2 lbs. Nitrogen per 1000 square feet
  • Remove or spray perennial weeds, such as dandelions and thistle—prevent annual weeds from going to seed by mowing or spraying before they flower
  • Aerate the lawn in early fall for better root growth—water well before freezing temperatures set in and then once or twice per month during the winter depending on temperatures  
General Maintenance
  • Beginning detaching your hose from the faucet and draining it each evening as a cold night can happen anytime after the middle of September in Colorado (sooner in higher altitudes)
  • Spray insecticide on your house foundation to prevent spider mite and other insects from moving indoors
  • Remove hummingbird feeder to encourage southern migration before it gets too cold
  • Round up all tools that need regular sharpening, including the lawn mower blade, and get these sharpened—avoid the spring rush
  • Clean clay pots with a weak bleach solution and store indoors to prevent cracking
  • Gather pinecones for the holidays
  • Get a head start on spring by beginning to plan next season’s landscape design
For any questions you have on this article, or any topic of concern, email us or better yet, come by and talk to one of our professional staff members.  Remember, Phelan Gardens is open year-round 

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