You’ve been busy. No surprise. School is back in session and there’s still salmon to install, jams to make, and tires to change. It can be frustrating often. A lot to do. Huge tasks can be specifically daunting.And you look at
your garden, your hoop house. Your withering perennials, tomatoes still ripening, or you hope. (See my column from 2 weeks ago). Your dreams of making compost, once and for all (of your plants).
Winter is coming … Where to start?
Take heart. In today’s column for Oct. 10 (delighted birthday, Margaret) I will help you browse through some basic fall gardening chores. (This seven-point checklist is drawn from a pdf that I give away totally free on my YouTube channel, The Gardener’s Coach).
Pursue weeds since, as the stating goes, “One year’s seeds, seven years’ weeds.” Get to the root of the issue: If you tug only the leaves, weeds will grow back. Utilize a tool, or merely get the weed close to the ground then pull directly. (View your back!) Do it right the very first time, you’re done.2.
Prune later, divide now
Resist the urge to prune perennials, a minimum of in the meantime, lest you miss out on charming fall colors. Plus, seed pods are welcome food for our feathered good friends. Divide plants that need it. Transplant them into their brand-new digs. Then water them in place. Weed initially, then put down a 3- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch.Put away poles, trellises, hose pipes, tools, and garden designs. Winter season weather condition is no good friend to terra-cotta pots and delicate garden art. Repairs and refinishing are fantastic rainy-day jobs. So are scarecrows!Just because it’s fall doesn’t indicate you need to stop growing veggies. Plant spinach seeds in early fall. Thin seedlings to 6 inches apart. Keep them moist and secure from frost. The goal: Strong, healthy roots. Cover with mini-hoops and”parent”them over the winter season. The reward: Yummy early greens! 5. Be cool. Make hot garden compost Until a deep freeze happens, you can make hot compost from leaves,
shredded twigs, food scraps, seaweed, yard clippings, garden debris, weeds. Yes, weeds. A hot compost pile (140 to 160 degrees F.)kills weed seeds and pathogens. Bugs won’t bother it either. Turn often.Monitor temperatures with a garden compost thermometer. In 6 weeks, done.6. Prepare yourself for next season Do not get caught with your plants down!
Repair, construct and fill raised beds. Dream, doodle and
make notes in your garden journal. Put your
smartphone to work: Tag preferred images and group them into folders for future recommendation. Start a seed-starting wish-list.7. Celebrate your garden!Bless your kitchen with dried herbs, jams, jellies, pickles(try pickled rhubarb! ), vinegars, fruit leather, frozen berries, and tomato
sauce. No need to blanch green beans for
freezing. Simply fill the bags with sliced beans, seal, label, and freeze. Bless others by sharing produce, flowers, gifts from the garden, and love.Remember to plant spring bulbs!Bring window box geraniums, potted begonias and other plants you want (hope) to overwinter out of the rain to dry out, the primary step to hardening them off for indoor living.Gather leaves, kelp, food scraps, manure and make a batch of garden compost– make it all at one time. Cut tall perennials, plant garlic cloves, harvest in earnest. Trim all raspberry walking sticks that produced berries this season. Harvest potatoes– Leave a little dirt; do not scrub spuds if you plan to store them over the winter.Last call for” excellent guidance “on getting your garden ready for spring! I’m hosting another Kodiak Gardening workshop Oct. 15-16. Minimal space. For more info and to sign up: Marion Owen is co-author of the New York Times bestseller Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul, which is offered through Amazon. To ask a gardening question: [email protected]!.?.!
Source: https://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/community/article_16ddd946-480f-11ed-9605-8b32b7ce1a12.html