As fall rolls on, it is time to put the garden to bed, until spring. Doing a whole yard clean and disposing of annuals now will give you head start next year. Learn more about Putting Your Garden to Bed.

LAWNS 

• Mow one last time at a height of two inches
• Keep watering your lawn until the ground freezes, particularly if we have a dry fall.
• Clear leaves and debris, and compost everything except diseased matter and Black Walnut tree clippings.

IN THE GARDEN 

• Veggies and herbs
  • Cut down and clear out everything, except perennials.
  • Add fresh compost and turn into the soil.
•  Annuals  
  • Remove plants from pots and put healthy ones into a compost pile. Discard any that have had a problem with disease or insects.
  • Remove any plant tags from the ground.
  • Fall is the only time to plant spring-blooming bulbs, like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. Learn more about Planting Spring-flowering Bulbs.
• Perennials
  • Let foliage yellow completely.
  • Divide crowded plants or transplant to a new location.
  • Cut down most perennials to the ground, a couple inches for ones like hardy hibiscus and you may want to leave sedum and grasses up for great winter interest.
  • Pull annual bulbs after the first frost and store for winter or simply discard.
  • Plant hardy bulbs and perennials for Spring color. Be sure to use bulb-tone for bulbs and Bio-tone for all plants when planting.
  • Mulch with cypress, cedar, hardwood or pine bark or cocoa shell to provide soil nutrients through the winter.
  • Maintain soil moisture by continuing to water until the ground freezes.

LANDSCAPE – SHRUBS & TREES 

• It’s best to cut all deadwood before leaves fall, to avoid accidentally cutting down healthy limbs.
• Plant new shrubs and trees before the ground freezes. Be sure to use Bio-tone and soil conditioner for all plants when planting.
• Stake anything that is newly planted or not stable.
• Use tree wrap on trees to protect from winter sun and prevent animal damage.
• Mulch with cypress, cedar, hardwood or pine bark or cocoa shell to provide soil nutrients through the winter.
• Maintain soil moisture by continuing to water until the ground freezes, especially any first-year plantings even if they were planted in the spring.

ROSES 

• Fall Care (do not prune any roses until you are sure the bush is dormant); this may be as late as December.
  • Maintain soil moisture by continuing to water until the ground freezes.
  • Remove any diseased foliage from around the plant.
  • Continue to treat for fungus and disease.
  • Stop applying any fertilizer that contains a high amount of nitrogen.
  • Apply Alaska Mor Bloom or a 0-10-10 in mid-October or later. Learn more about Caring for Roses.
• Winter Protection for Roses (should not begin until after two to three hard frosts — about mid to late November) 
  • Cut back garden roses to about 8-10inches tall and cover with a rose cone. 
  • For climbing roses, thin out all but the 3 or 4 strongest canes but don’t cut those down in height, place a rose collar around the base or crown of the rose and fill with mulch to protect through the winter.
  • For shrub roses, prune to half the height of the bush if you want them to be large or prune down to fit in a rose cone if you want to keep them smaller every year.

SOIL 

• Amend with organics:
  • Clay – mix soil conditioner with existing soil or 
  • Sand – add peat, black topsoil, and compost.
• Cut out new beds and get the soil ready for spring planting. Roto-till, add topsoil and organic matter to create nutrient-rich soil that is ready for Spring. 

Learn more about Amendments for Powerful Soil.

ODDS AND ENDS

• Start planning Christmas decorating.  Decide your holiday theme and color scheme. Determine which trees and focal points you’re going to light for the holidays.
• Keep a journal of planting success and learning opportunities.
• Clean ALL garden tools and pots before storing 
• Continue to fill bird feeders and keep them clean. Food will get harder to find as temperatures drop. Learn more about Keeping Birds Around all Winter.
• Winterize water features by removing pumps and cover to prevent water from collecting.
• Dream about next year’s garden.

For more information on putting your garden to bed, or winter prep, visit any English Gardens location and talk to an expert.