As summer fades, the garden can take a step back. But there's still a lot going on underground, so now's not the time to relax.
Your plants still need water to get started. Although their thirst decreases with cooler temperatures, perennials, trees, and shrubs in cooler regions need extra water to prepare (and grow successfully) in early fall. ) from rest.
In cooler areas, plant pansies for a splash of fall color. They will die back in winter but will bloom again the following spring by the time the heat of summer hits. In warmer regions, pansies do well as long as winter temperatures don't exceed 80 degrees.
Add other seasonal flowers to the garden or container. Chrysanthemums, asters and colorful cabbage and cabbage are good choices.
You can start planting onions. In regions with winter frosts, these are hardy plants such as tulips, grape hyacinths, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, snowdrops and snowdrops. To the south, see amaryllis, caladia, calla lilies, cannas, daffodils, dahlias, elephant ears, gladioli and bulbous begonias.
Gardeners in the southernmost regions of the United States, such as southern Texas and Florida, can grow a variety of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant.
If they are still producing, the growing crop does not need to be harvested. Get what you can from them until they die themselves, then clear the bed of plant debris.
Planting cover crops like alfalfa or ryegrass in bare vegetable beds helps deter weeds, control erosion, and add nutrients to the soil. In the spring, simply turn the soil over and plant your next garden. However, do not use lemons in beds where you intend to grow legumes such as beans or peas.
Dispose of diseased plants in the household waste and create a compost heap with healthy plant parts. Create layers of fresh ingredients such as kitchen scraps from fruit and vegetables, grass clippings, dead weeds, coffee grounds, cornstarch peanuts, horse manure, horse manure, etc. Replace rabbits and birds with dry materials such as leaves, twigs, scraps of paper, and hay (no cat litter, dog feces, fat, meat, milk or other products of animal origin).
To speed up decomposition, sprinkle some nitrogen on each layer and keep the pile slightly moist by turning frequently with a fork. You can enrich your floor with "black gold" as early as next summer.
Test the pH of your soil now to prepare for spring planting, and add supplements like lime and compost, if necessary, to work deep into the soil over the winter.
Avoid fertilizing anywhere except in the South, where some lawns may benefit from an early fall application of a slow-release product. However, follow local fertilizer restrictions (and possible fines) to protect ecosystems and avoid waste. During the southern monsoon, for example, nitrogen from the soil is likely to seep into the groundwater; In the north, cold temperatures inhibit the uptake of fertilizers, which can get into the groundwater.
Both of these situations pollute our valuable resources and waste money because the fertilizer picked up isn't going to benefit your lawn or plants anyway.
Southern gardeners should feed their citrus trees now, but not in rainy weather. Use a slow-release product to provide long-lasting nutrients and prevent leaching and runoff.
Liven up your lawn, but aerate it first. Sow once a week and water lightly to a height of 3 inches daily.
Transplant and divide perennials and ground covers in spring and early summer, but don't disturb late-season flowers until spring.
Fall is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. In colder regions, it's best to wait until the trees in your area lose their leaves. Water well and mulch.
Cool season crops such as beets, radishes, broccoli, and broccoli can now be grown in many temperate climates.
Finally, do your future self a favor and lay it over the grass. If you pull them out by the roots before planting, their number will be greatly reduced in the following year.
You will thank yourself in the spring.
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Jessica Damiano writes a regular gardening column for the Associated Press. Their 2021 Garden Calendar won the Garden Communicator International Media Award. Its weekly Dart newsletter has won the PCLI 2021 Media Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. Sign up here for weekly gardening tips and tricks.
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