As summer season turns to fall, the garden may appear to fade into the background. But there’s still plenty of action going on underground, so this is no time to rest.For starters,
your plants still need water. Although their thirst will subside as temperature levels cool, perennials, trees and shrubs in chillier regions really need additional water in early autumn to assist them get ready for (and effectively emerge from) dormancy.
In cooler zones, plant pansies for a dash of fall color. They’ll die down over winter but return to flower once again next spring up until the heat of summer does them in. In warmer zones, the pansies will keep doing great so long as winter season temperature levels don’t increase above 80 degrees.Add other seasonal bloomers to the garden or containers, too. Chrysanthemums, asters, and vibrant decorative kales and cabbages are good choices.You can likewise start planting bulbs. In locations that experience winter freezes, this suggests durable ones like tulips,
muscari, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, snowdrops and glory of the snow. In the South, think about amaryllis, caladiums, calla lilies, cannas, daffodils, dahlias, elephant ears, gladiolus and tuberous begonias.Those gardening in the southernmost parts of the U.S., like South Texas and Florida, can plant another round of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants.There’s no requirement to pull up declining crops if they’re still producing. Take what you can from them up until they die down on their own, then clear beds of plant debris.Planting a cover crop such as clover or rye in vacant vegetable beds
will assist suppress weeds, control erosion and add nutrients to the soil. Come spring, simply turn the ground over and plant your next garden. Prevent using legume cover crops in beds where
you plan to grow beans like beans or peas, however.Dispose of unhealthy plants in the garbage, and begin a compost heap with healthy plant parts. Create layers of fresh materials like fruit and vegetable kitchen scraps, lawn clippings, weeds that have not gone to seed, coffee grounds, cornstarch packing peanuts, horse manure, and bunny and bird droppings.
Alternate them with dry products like leaves, branches, shredded paper and straw( never consist of used cat litter, dog poop, fats, meat, dairy or other animal products). To speed decomposition, spray a little nitrogen over each layer and keep the stack slightly wet, turning it every now and then with a pitchfork. By next summer season, you’ll have the ability to enhance your soil with”black gold.” To prepare for spring planting, test your soil’s pH now and include changes like lime,
if indicated, and compost, which will work their way deep into the ground over winter.Avoid fertilizing everywhere other than in the South, where some turfgrasses might gain from an early fall application of a slow-release item. However observe regional fertilizer constraints to protect the ecosystem and avoid waste(and, potentially, fines). Throughout the South’s rainy season, for example, nitrogen is likely to be washed through the soil into groundwater
; in the North, cooling temperature levels avoid the absorption of fertilizers, which also can seep into groundwater there. Both situations pollute our valuable resources and waste money, as unabsorbed fertilizer won’t benefit your yard or plants, anyway.Southern garden enthusiasts should feed citrus trees now, however not throughout rainy weather. Use a slow-release item to provide long-lasting nutrients and prevent leaching and runoff.Rejuvenate the lawn, however core aerate it initially. Seed when a week and water lightly every day up until it’s 3 inches tall.Transplant and divide spring- and early-summer perennials and groundcovers, however do not disturb late-season bloomers till spring.Fall is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. In cold zones, it’s best to wait up until the trees in your location drop their leaves.
Water well and use mulch.Cool-season crops, like beets, radishes, greens and broccoli can be planted in numerous temperate climates now.Finally, do your future self a favor and keep top of
weeds. Pulling them up by their roots before they set seed will considerably lower their numbers next year.You’ll thank yourself in the spring.–
-Jessica Damiano writes routine gardening columns for The Associated Press. Her Gardening Calendar was named a winner in the 2021 Garden Communicators International Media Awards. Her Weekly Dirt Newsletter won a Society of Expert Journalists PCLI 2021 Media Award. Sign up here for weekly gardening tips and guidance. For more AP Gardening stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/gardening.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/plants-gardening-shrubs-1ec96c8ef665877fe6654e700b058ff1