11 Fall Tips for Better Gardens – Signals AZ

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This week, Prescott Mountain gardener Ken Lain shares 11 fall tips for better gardens. Find out in this article how to enrich a garden in autumn. Which flowers to plant in fall for next spring. What to plant in the garden, how to clean a perennial garden, and what to plant in a fall garden.

Fall gardening is a good time to remember successes and disappointments in the garden. There is still plenty of time left to tend to the garden. Fall gardening benefits from cooler temperatures and fewer weeds and insects. Putting the garden to bed isn't as hectic as waking up in spring. You have time to really see how your plants are doing.

Here are some tasks you should tackle now to make the garden brighter and more beautiful next year.

1. Enrich the flower beds

Enrich flowerbeds with Watters outdoor manure. Spread a 2- to 3-inch-thick layer evenly over the exposed soil. Earthworms, along with the freeze-thaw cycle in winter, will work this nutrient-rich manure into the soil for you.

2. Collect the dried seeds.

Collect dried seeds from your flowers, vegetables and herbs. Save these seeds to plant in the garden next year. You could even try expanding your skills and starting winter planting this fall.

3. Clean birdhouses

Clean birdhouses to prepare them for use. The birds have done a great job this year feasting on garden pests and serenading you. We are on the bird migration route . I am amazed at how many different birds visit the feeders by the end of the year.

4. Dry herbs and flowers

Gather herbs and flowers to dry . Leave a few flowers for the birds, but start cleaning up your garden by cutting plants like hydrangeas, lavender, and yarrow and bringing them indoors. Now I can smell the scent of herbs.

5. Clean cold frames

Clean cold frames for winter use. You don't want to do this when the temperature drops below freezing. If you clean it in the fall, you're much more likely to use it in the spring.

6. Prepare the water garden for winter.

Prepare your water garden for winter. Prepare to turn off the bomb and turn on the icebreaker. Don't forget to cover the water garden with netting to prevent falling leaves and blue herons from entering.

7. Water your trees and shrubs

Keep trees and shrubs well watered until the ground freezes. They may look like they're sleeping, but they're still alive. If you have a mild, dry winter, continue watering throughout the season. This goes double for the trees that were planted this year. As a rule of thumb, you should water your garden with a deep soak every two weeks.

8. Reduce perennials

Cut back most perennials . Permanently thin out diseased perennials, remove all leaves and dispose of them in a place other than the compost.

9. Prepare your garden tools

Clean, sand and oil garden tools before storing them for the winter.

10. Feed the whole garden

Feeds the entire garden. This is particularly true for young landscapes. Feed everything in the garden with Watters 7-4-4 All-Purpose Plant Food . This will highlight the flowers and colors of fall. Most importantly, your evergreen trees will retain their rich green colors throughout the winter, ensuring better growth next spring.

11. Treat your conifers

Treat your evergreen pines and firs with Plant Protector . This easy-to-use plant dip will keep insects away from your trees and larger evergreens for next year.

Here is my personal fall gardening to-do list. You have plenty of time, but the entire list should be complete before Thanksgiving.

Until the next issue, I'll be helping locals grow better gardens here at Watters Garden Center.

This article was written by Ken Lain. You can find him all week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contact him through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Plants.com .

For more gardening tips, visit Watters Garden Center in the Mountain Gardener section of Signals A Z.com .

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