| Here it is fall and the garden is ready to snooze. | | | | after you have cleared away any unwanted |
| Hold it, there is more work to be completed. | | | | waste from the base of the plant. It is also best |
| Some mulching and some pruning. Those fallen | | | | to wait until the ground is frozen. |
| leaves and dying annuals are not for the trash but | | | | Garden advice when less than 5% of our soils are |
| that organic material is black gold for the garden. | | | | composed of organic matter.o Apply 25 to 50 |
| A step that is both ordinarily and commonly | | | | pounds of compost per 100 square feet yearly. |
| neglected, to lay the garden to bed for the | | | | Mulching over the winter works as an insulating |
| winter, is the addition of organic matter. More | | | | blanket, keeping the soil from buckling from |
| people should use organic matter in their beds | | | | constant freeze and thaw cycles. If you plant |
| rather than casting off their yard waste.See, this | | | | perennials this fall without mulching, the bald soil will |
| is right at our feet, yard waste. It has to be | | | | thaw during the day and freeze at night, |
| raked or mowed, so why not utilize it for Mother | | | | producing movement that can heave small plants |
| Nature's blanket - mulch. | | | | up out of the soil. The crown of the plant will be |
| It is impossible to put too much organic matter | | | | dried out and either be injured or die over the |
| into the soil. Fall is a good time for many reasons. | | | | winter. |
| One good reason is all of the materials that you | | | | A concluding word on mulching, rose gardeners |
| want are there for free, leaves and dying plants. | | | | should not be in a big rush to mulch this fall. |
| A good suggestion is piling up leaves, grass | | | | Putting down a layer of mulch now will do more |
| clippings and dead plants (those free from | | | | harm than good. Fall freezes will not hurt the |
| disease) and going over them with a mulching | | | | roses, so it is best to wait a few weeks for the |
| mower, then putting them into the garden bed. | | | | soil to freeze before putting down a layer of your |
| How much benefit can a few inches layered on | | | | winter mulch to any rose. |
| garden beds really help? A lot. | | | | Prune or not to prune |
| The very best thing a gardener can do to better | | | | Specified perennials, such as peonies after their |
| their soil is add organic matter. It increases the | | | | leaves have died, without a doubt need to be |
| water capacity and nutrient holding capacity of | | | | trimmed. The iris is also open to diseases and |
| the soil. It assists in making minerals available for | | | | rotting and is better off if its leaves is trimmed |
| plants. While it accumulates, it binds clay particles | | | | back. The tree peony, however, is somewhat like |
| into larger sums, improving aeration and drainage. | | | | a deciduous shrub with a woody stalk and won't |
| And don't forget, gardening success always begins | | | | need to be trimmed, just fertilized around |
| from the ground up. | | | | November and mulched for the onset of a cold |
| Alright, so it seems many gardeners are taking | | | | winter. |
| for granted the most important resource in the | | | | A little bit of clean up and trimming should be |
| yard which is the soil. Now where do we begin? | | | | evident, fruits and vegetables left deteriorating on |
| Run over that grass and leaves with a mulching | | | | the earth will only bring disease and rodents. |
| lawnmower is recommended. This will shred the | | | | Trimming perennials that provide no winter appeal |
| material into tiny pieces, and it can be left on as a | | | | will lower the likelihood of pests, disease and other |
| top dressing. Put on two or three inches. If you | | | | gardening troubles, and it will liven up the outdoor |
| have mulch already down, rake that back, apply | | | | space by making clean lines and a clean slate for |
| to the surface the shredded organic matter and | | | | the spring. |
| then return the mulch on top. | | | | You can always leave perennials that have winter |
| Working with mulch | | | | appeal, like sedum or black-eyed susan, and you |
| Some jobs done in the fall will determine the | | | | always leave ornamental grasses there until spring. |
| success of the next gardening year. Mulching is | | | | Texture and multi-colors of tan, brown and rust |
| one of these chores, particularly if you have put | | | | can be just as important to the winter garden as |
| new perennials to the garden this fall. To mulch or | | | | the bloom colors are to the garden of summer. |
| not to mulch is highly talked about. Many experts | | | | Plants, such as broad leaf evergreens, like holly |
| claim that if you mulch too soon, it will cause new | | | | and azaleas, are inclined to feel winter dryness |
| growth and give the plant a falsified view of the | | | | and are much better left uncut. |
| true temperatures. Other people say mulching is | | | | So even if you've received kudos for the great |
| essential to ensure tenderness, and new | | | | color and design of your yard this season, we still |
| perennials are provided a good foundation in which | | | | need to clean up after the garden so that we are |
| to root. One thing is for certain, just add mulch | | | | ready to start again in the spring. |