The majority of individuals who start out in landscaping or gardening have very little idea about the different plants and growth requirements. The average consumer simply walks into a store or goes online and buys the most colorful plant. And the result in most cases is an inevitable failure. For successful gardening or landscaping, one should start to read or ask questions about plants before buying them. Good plant selection is the chief requirement for successful landscaping. The landscape can only look as good as the plants you select. If you select poor plants, you will get an awful scene and vice versa.
The other criteria when choosing plants is to know where you will place them. Many consumers buy a plant, then find it is too big for the house, and then place it somewhere in the back yard. This is considered poor planning. Secondly, if you do not want to work hard, buy plants that require low maintenance. Plants can grow wild and make your landscape look very messy if you do not maintain them. Other things one should know before buying a plant is what size it will grow to, what season it blooms and whether is it susceptible to insects.
Planning Ahead
Prior to purchasing plants, look at where you want to place our plant. Study the location to determine whether it is sunny, dark, wet, dry and what type of soil you have. Some plants prefer acidic soil and yet other prefers alkaline soil.
This planning does not take long but yet most majority of consumers have absolutely no clue about their landscape. When these factors are not taken into account, the results are always predictable- disaster. Individuals who assess their landscape before buying a plant almost always have a 100% success. Further, when preplanning is done, the majority of plants selected will thrive without a great deal of maintenance.
Caring for plants
Even though there are many plants that can grow without much maintenance, some energy and effort is required to make the landscape beautiful. Most people want a beautiful landscape and always think of planting roses. While roses do make the land look pretty, they do require a lot of work. Roses need to be sprayed, pruned, trimmed, watered, and dead foliage needs to be regularly removed if you want to continue having colorful roses.
Most people want instant success with roses but are not willing to put in the time. Therefore, if you do not have the time or you do not want to spend time in the garden, then roses should not be on the list of plants you want on your landscape.
So what plant does one buy?
Plants are easily available at most garden centers and nurseries in most towns and cities in North America. Most plants are sold in 1-2 gallon pots or plastic containers. Most people seem to forget that these small plants will grow large once they are planted in the ground.
By thoroughly bearing in mind how huge a mature plant will become prior to planting it, you will save you a lot of effort, heartache, time, and money.
If you are a novice getting into landscaping, the best advice is to speak to an expert at a nursery. For more on landscaping.
About the Author
http://www.tnnursery.com At tn Nursery we are a state certified landscaping tree nursery suppliers fo trees,shrubs.perennials anf fern.
Showing posts with label gardening tips for fall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardening tips for fall. Show all posts
A Hobby Greenhouse Will Get You Growing! by Pinkrashmi
For people who would like to do more gardening but live in a short growing season area, a hobby greenhouse is the answer. A hobby greenhouse is not large enough to produce vegetables or flowers on a commercial basis. It will, however, give you a place for a tomato plant or two and some fresh greens even if you live in the northern regions. Greenhouse enthusiasts even have their own association, called the Hobby Greenhouse Association, which publishes a quarterly magazine. The organization also sponsers events and helps individuals connect to get help with the aspect of gardening that they are interested in, whether it's growing cacti or saving seeds.
If you are in the market for a hobby greenhouse, there are several types on the market. The smallest type is not large enough to walk into and must be accessed from the outside. It resembles an old-fashioned phone booth made all of glass and outfitted with shelves. This type is designed to fit as many plants as possible in as small a place as possible. The shelves are made of glass to allow as much light as possible to reach plants on the lower shelves. Another inexpensive version of this sort of hobby greenhouse is shelving covered with a zippered tent of clear plastic. This sort of arrangement is great for the small-scale hobby gardener wanting a place to keep her flowers or houseplant starts.
There are a variety of designs of hobby greenhouse that are large enough to walk into but made entirely of clear glass or plastic. They are often about the same size as a small storage building. Some independent builders have started making these to sell locally. Among national brands, one of the nicest is called the "Solar Prism." It is called this because of it's unique construction. This hobby greenhouse is made of a single piece of durable clear plastic which is designed to work like tiny prisms side by side. They trap the rays of the sun and shoot them back into the greenhouse at all angles. For this reason, these little greenhouses are said to glow when the weather is cloudy.
Better hobby greenhouses are equipped with automatic sensors that open vents which allow ventilation and keep the interior temperatures from getting too high. These are a great labor saver, but can get expensive. Another benefit sometimes found in nicer greenhouses is a built in irrigation or misting system. Members of the Hobby Greenhouse Association, or HGA, have invented many interesting designs of greenhouses.
If gardening is your hobby, greenhouse growing will interest you. With a greenhouse, you can have the earliest tomatoes and salad greens all year. You can also start seedlings for the main garden early in the spring when outdoor temperatures would kill them. A hobby greenhouse can be a good investment.
About the Author
Rashmi is a Internet Marketer. Click Here to know more about her
If you are in the market for a hobby greenhouse, there are several types on the market. The smallest type is not large enough to walk into and must be accessed from the outside. It resembles an old-fashioned phone booth made all of glass and outfitted with shelves. This type is designed to fit as many plants as possible in as small a place as possible. The shelves are made of glass to allow as much light as possible to reach plants on the lower shelves. Another inexpensive version of this sort of hobby greenhouse is shelving covered with a zippered tent of clear plastic. This sort of arrangement is great for the small-scale hobby gardener wanting a place to keep her flowers or houseplant starts.
There are a variety of designs of hobby greenhouse that are large enough to walk into but made entirely of clear glass or plastic. They are often about the same size as a small storage building. Some independent builders have started making these to sell locally. Among national brands, one of the nicest is called the "Solar Prism." It is called this because of it's unique construction. This hobby greenhouse is made of a single piece of durable clear plastic which is designed to work like tiny prisms side by side. They trap the rays of the sun and shoot them back into the greenhouse at all angles. For this reason, these little greenhouses are said to glow when the weather is cloudy.
Better hobby greenhouses are equipped with automatic sensors that open vents which allow ventilation and keep the interior temperatures from getting too high. These are a great labor saver, but can get expensive. Another benefit sometimes found in nicer greenhouses is a built in irrigation or misting system. Members of the Hobby Greenhouse Association, or HGA, have invented many interesting designs of greenhouses.
If gardening is your hobby, greenhouse growing will interest you. With a greenhouse, you can have the earliest tomatoes and salad greens all year. You can also start seedlings for the main garden early in the spring when outdoor temperatures would kill them. A hobby greenhouse can be a good investment.
About the Author
Rashmi is a Internet Marketer. Click Here to know more about her
A Healthy Fresh Herb Garden by Julie brown
Everyone tells us how wonderful herbs are and about their different uses. They are easy to locate at the grocery or health food store. If you don't mind the packaged, dried, and sometimes old herb fare, then you should be fine with that. Realistically, the flavor is better and the herbs are healthier for you when they come from a fresh herb garden. This can be achieved two ways. You can locate an herb garden grown by a friend and pilfer from him, or you can grow your own. I'm sure the friend would prefer you did the latter.
Aside from a little work, herb gardening is relatively easy. The experts say that a small family will be well served by a garden no more than 4 feet by 6 feet. Almost anyone can find that much space, whether it be inside or outside. Herb plants produce so well that it doesn't take a lot of plants of any one kind. Many culinary herbs are used in such small quantities that one plant will be all that is needed in a garden.
For a healthy garden, you will need to plant where it is the most advantageous for the plants you will have. Read planting tips about each of the herbs you want to grow. Some herbs prefer full sun and others like full shade. Your location might be close to a building where you have sun on some of the plants and not on the others, or at least the sun would not be on the plants all day. If you are planting a container garden, or if you are planting inside, you will have better control of the amount of sunlight your herbs will receive.
Let's look at what we should consider with outdoor garden locations. Do not plant in a low area with no drainage. Water, while it is the life blood of all living things, can be detrimental to your garden if it drowns the plants.
It is better to locate your garden where it is partially sheltered. If you plant next to a building, position the garden to the south and west to give protection against the cooler air that comes from the north and northeast.
You may not be the only one who likes fresh herbs. If you have outside animals visit your yard often, put up a fence to keep the wanderers out. You won't need anything really fancy, and it only needs to be 3 or 4 feet high with a gate.
In a vegetable garden, it is usually necessary to put out poisons to kill the bad insects. Herb gardens do not have as many invaders as vegetable gardens. Companion planting helps eliminate a lot of problems. For instance, garlic is a deterrent for aphids and Japanese beetles. Plant garlic outside of the garden, and mash up garlic to make a spray for the herbs. Calendula helps keep insects out above and below ground. Mint deters aphids and flea beetles, while lavender helps control moths.
If it is necessary to use pesticides for control of insects, do so sparingly. Poisons may also run away the good insects. Take enough time with your garden to ensure that it is healthy and well located. A fresh herb garden is an investment in your good health. Take wise care of it.
About the Author
For more information on fresh herb garden and other topics on herb gardening visit http://www.herbgardenzone.com
Aside from a little work, herb gardening is relatively easy. The experts say that a small family will be well served by a garden no more than 4 feet by 6 feet. Almost anyone can find that much space, whether it be inside or outside. Herb plants produce so well that it doesn't take a lot of plants of any one kind. Many culinary herbs are used in such small quantities that one plant will be all that is needed in a garden.
For a healthy garden, you will need to plant where it is the most advantageous for the plants you will have. Read planting tips about each of the herbs you want to grow. Some herbs prefer full sun and others like full shade. Your location might be close to a building where you have sun on some of the plants and not on the others, or at least the sun would not be on the plants all day. If you are planting a container garden, or if you are planting inside, you will have better control of the amount of sunlight your herbs will receive.
Let's look at what we should consider with outdoor garden locations. Do not plant in a low area with no drainage. Water, while it is the life blood of all living things, can be detrimental to your garden if it drowns the plants.
It is better to locate your garden where it is partially sheltered. If you plant next to a building, position the garden to the south and west to give protection against the cooler air that comes from the north and northeast.
You may not be the only one who likes fresh herbs. If you have outside animals visit your yard often, put up a fence to keep the wanderers out. You won't need anything really fancy, and it only needs to be 3 or 4 feet high with a gate.
In a vegetable garden, it is usually necessary to put out poisons to kill the bad insects. Herb gardens do not have as many invaders as vegetable gardens. Companion planting helps eliminate a lot of problems. For instance, garlic is a deterrent for aphids and Japanese beetles. Plant garlic outside of the garden, and mash up garlic to make a spray for the herbs. Calendula helps keep insects out above and below ground. Mint deters aphids and flea beetles, while lavender helps control moths.
If it is necessary to use pesticides for control of insects, do so sparingly. Poisons may also run away the good insects. Take enough time with your garden to ensure that it is healthy and well located. A fresh herb garden is an investment in your good health. Take wise care of it.
About the Author
For more information on fresh herb garden and other topics on herb gardening visit http://www.herbgardenzone.com
Caring for Roses Preparing Your Rose Garden for the Winter by Sean Templeton
Winter care varies with the different climates so local gardeners advice is invaluable. However there are some general guidelines to follow. Rose bushes die or die back over the winter from cold drying winds, changes in freezing and thawing and from cold temperatures to the bud union. To protect the bud union mound up soil or a mulch to about one foot high after the first hard frost. Do not cut canes in the fall or give nitrogen fertilizers as both stimulate soft new growth which will be killed. Long canes on bushes or climbers can be tied to prevent wind rock. Container plants can be moved inside to an unheated space when their leaves fall off and a little water should be given monthly to prevent drying out.
Some people believe that when the weather starts getting colder and the leaves start to fall, it is time to put away the gardening tools and wait until next spring to work on their garden again. Wrong. Winter is an important time to maintain your garden's health and assure yourself a good crop for next year. You may think that might take to long to prepare your garden, but the truth is that it takes less than one day to prepare your garden for the upcoming winter. When the nighttime temperatures drop to less than forty-five degrees Fahrenheit for more than four days in a row, or frost is forecasted for your area (usually around late October or November) you know it is time to begin preparing your garden. You should begin by evaluating your garden design, check which plants grew well in the past season, and which plants did not do well. Fall is a good time to decide which plants will remain in you garden next year, and which ones should go. After you have finished this you should begin cleaning up your garden. Begin by pulling out weeds that may have cropped up, and raking fallen leaves. Weeds and rotten leaves can carry insects and diseases that might be harmful to your garden. You should also rid your garden of spent annual plants, and harvest your vegetables and other plants that cannot withstand the winter weather. After fall has come and gone, the leaves will be off your trees and you can see the rotten branches. Trimming off the unwanted branches from your trees isn't necessary to your gardens health, but may help later on by not dropping branches on your plants and not blocking too much of the sun. If you have younger trees you should consider wrapping them and supporting them with stakes to help them survive the winter wind and cold. Putting mulch over your garden for the winter can be a helpful way to protect plants from sudden temperature changes and heavy snow. For mulch you can use about five inches of shredded bark, pine needles, or a variety of other materials. You have to be careful not to mulch too early, because some insects may still be alive and able to take shelter in it for the winter. Once you are finished with your gardening tools you should clean them and make sure they are in a safe place where they won't rust and you know where they'll be for next year. Before winter comes you should always set out slug repellent, as slugs are one of the worst bugs to have in your garden. If you have a pool or fountain in your garden, be sure to take out any fish that you have in them and bring them inside. There's nothing sadder than a fish frozen in a block of ice.
About the Author
Sean is an rose garden expert. For more information on caring for roses, visit http://www.rosearered.com.
Some people believe that when the weather starts getting colder and the leaves start to fall, it is time to put away the gardening tools and wait until next spring to work on their garden again. Wrong. Winter is an important time to maintain your garden's health and assure yourself a good crop for next year. You may think that might take to long to prepare your garden, but the truth is that it takes less than one day to prepare your garden for the upcoming winter. When the nighttime temperatures drop to less than forty-five degrees Fahrenheit for more than four days in a row, or frost is forecasted for your area (usually around late October or November) you know it is time to begin preparing your garden. You should begin by evaluating your garden design, check which plants grew well in the past season, and which plants did not do well. Fall is a good time to decide which plants will remain in you garden next year, and which ones should go. After you have finished this you should begin cleaning up your garden. Begin by pulling out weeds that may have cropped up, and raking fallen leaves. Weeds and rotten leaves can carry insects and diseases that might be harmful to your garden. You should also rid your garden of spent annual plants, and harvest your vegetables and other plants that cannot withstand the winter weather. After fall has come and gone, the leaves will be off your trees and you can see the rotten branches. Trimming off the unwanted branches from your trees isn't necessary to your gardens health, but may help later on by not dropping branches on your plants and not blocking too much of the sun. If you have younger trees you should consider wrapping them and supporting them with stakes to help them survive the winter wind and cold. Putting mulch over your garden for the winter can be a helpful way to protect plants from sudden temperature changes and heavy snow. For mulch you can use about five inches of shredded bark, pine needles, or a variety of other materials. You have to be careful not to mulch too early, because some insects may still be alive and able to take shelter in it for the winter. Once you are finished with your gardening tools you should clean them and make sure they are in a safe place where they won't rust and you know where they'll be for next year. Before winter comes you should always set out slug repellent, as slugs are one of the worst bugs to have in your garden. If you have a pool or fountain in your garden, be sure to take out any fish that you have in them and bring them inside. There's nothing sadder than a fish frozen in a block of ice.
About the Author
Sean is an rose garden expert. For more information on caring for roses, visit http://www.rosearered.com.
How to Grow the Best Fall Garden by Nancy May
Late August and early September is the time of year where vacations are ending and kids are heading back to school. Just because outdoor activities are dwindling down doesn't mean you can't continue tending to your garden and home landscaping. Fall is the garden's most forgotten season. In most North American gardens, the fall is an underused season for gardening. By planting a fall garden, you take advantage of this beautiful season and can enjoy your garden a little longer. We spend so much time creating beauty from spring's first flowers throughout the summer we often forget to reap the rewards during the fall. Whether you want to plant vegetation or shrubbery and flowers, there are some wonderful plants and vegetation that put on their best show between August and October.
The fall is a great time to grow some cool season vegetables. Typically, vegetables that grow best in cool weather are leafy greens, root crops and various members of the cabbage family. Beets, carrots, peas, turnips, radishes, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts may be planted in early August for fall harvesting. Some of them will even tolerate light frosts. These are wonderful vegetables to grow this time of year, and taste so much better than store bought produce. Plant a fall garden and enjoy homegrown veggies into the cooler months of the year.
Fall is a satisfying time of the year for the perennial gardener. There are still a good 6 to 8 weeks of beautiful fall gardens ahead. Perennials that drooped and faded in the heat of summer may re-bloom, and the fall-blooming plants are in their full glory. Go for colors that complement the falling leaves. Try some of the many perennials (begonias or goldenrods), annuals (mums) and shrubs (Sumac or Fothergilla) that shine against the spectacular backdrop of the changing seasons. Choose bright gold or orange or even red perennials. These will typically bloom until the first frost of the season.
During the fall, it is time to begin thinking about winter and preparing your perennial beds accordingly. There are a number of cleanup and winter preparation chores that you should perform. As fall progresses you will want to start clearing leaves out of your gardening beds. If left to mat down thickly they may create conditions that cause root rot. You can use the shredded leaves to mulch your garden. Also, early October is a good time to prune back herbaceous plants that will be killed to the ground with the first frost.
Take advantage of the cool months after summer to beautify your garden or landscaping for fall and prepare it for a cold winter. The more tending you are to your gardening year-round the more effortless it looks with each passing season.
About the Author
Lifestyle Builders is a leading home builder and developer of new homes in Midlothian, Virginia. Our homes are built in such neighborhoods and communities throughout the Richmond Virginia area.
The fall is a great time to grow some cool season vegetables. Typically, vegetables that grow best in cool weather are leafy greens, root crops and various members of the cabbage family. Beets, carrots, peas, turnips, radishes, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts may be planted in early August for fall harvesting. Some of them will even tolerate light frosts. These are wonderful vegetables to grow this time of year, and taste so much better than store bought produce. Plant a fall garden and enjoy homegrown veggies into the cooler months of the year.
Fall is a satisfying time of the year for the perennial gardener. There are still a good 6 to 8 weeks of beautiful fall gardens ahead. Perennials that drooped and faded in the heat of summer may re-bloom, and the fall-blooming plants are in their full glory. Go for colors that complement the falling leaves. Try some of the many perennials (begonias or goldenrods), annuals (mums) and shrubs (Sumac or Fothergilla) that shine against the spectacular backdrop of the changing seasons. Choose bright gold or orange or even red perennials. These will typically bloom until the first frost of the season.
During the fall, it is time to begin thinking about winter and preparing your perennial beds accordingly. There are a number of cleanup and winter preparation chores that you should perform. As fall progresses you will want to start clearing leaves out of your gardening beds. If left to mat down thickly they may create conditions that cause root rot. You can use the shredded leaves to mulch your garden. Also, early October is a good time to prune back herbaceous plants that will be killed to the ground with the first frost.
Take advantage of the cool months after summer to beautify your garden or landscaping for fall and prepare it for a cold winter. The more tending you are to your gardening year-round the more effortless it looks with each passing season.
About the Author
Lifestyle Builders is a leading home builder and developer of new homes in Midlothian, Virginia. Our homes are built in such neighborhoods and communities throughout the Richmond Virginia area.
How to Successfully Fertilize Your Garden in the Fall by udora DeWynter
Question: What promoted the growth and health of a beautiful spring garden? Answer: Knowing how to fertilize and prepare it in the fall. Good gardening fertilization techniques in the fall is essential to a healthy garden come next spring. Know what the letters and numbers on the packaging labels mean is a good start and a fact that one should know.
Knowing that the N represents the amount of nitrogen and that nitrogen promotes a good healthy growth of the plants foliage. P represents the amounts of phosphorus which will aid stimulate and promote good root growth while K represents the potassium levels for the cell functions and a healthy plant.
Sometime cooler weather will make plants seem dead or dormant when they are not, their roots are only growing and then is a good time to fertilize with a high phosphorus fertilizer to help assure yourself that your plants will have a strong root system next spring.
When there is an early frost in the fall this helps plants to produce higher levels of amino acids which will help them to resist freezing and making them hardier when the winter temperatures drop. As you start your fall fertilization remember that different plants have different needs such as perennials, your spring bulbs and your roses.
Perennial love a high phosphate fertilizer with low nitrogen content and fertilizing with this type will give you a lovely array of blossoms at blooming time. In September or October plant your spring bulbs such as tulips and daffodils and feed them with a phosphorus fertilizer at the root level to help get them established before the winter sets in.
As I plant I like to add a little compost as food being sure to plant with the tips up and in a manner that the hole is at least 4 times the height of the bulb. Now is not a good time to fertilize roses, they should be fertilized and cut back after the have gone dormant for the winter.
Fertilizing in the fall only promotes and encourages new growth or simply cut them back and feed them well in the spring when new foliage begins to appear. After fertilizing with a granular time released fertilizer and raking it good into the ground it is a good idea to apply a layer of mulch, then water well allowing it to soak into the ground. A good fall fertilization of your garden will definitely pay off when next spring finally arrives.
About the Author
Eudora DeWynter offers tips on Fall Gardening Tips on her blog athttp:www.gardentoolguru.com
Knowing that the N represents the amount of nitrogen and that nitrogen promotes a good healthy growth of the plants foliage. P represents the amounts of phosphorus which will aid stimulate and promote good root growth while K represents the potassium levels for the cell functions and a healthy plant.
Sometime cooler weather will make plants seem dead or dormant when they are not, their roots are only growing and then is a good time to fertilize with a high phosphorus fertilizer to help assure yourself that your plants will have a strong root system next spring.
When there is an early frost in the fall this helps plants to produce higher levels of amino acids which will help them to resist freezing and making them hardier when the winter temperatures drop. As you start your fall fertilization remember that different plants have different needs such as perennials, your spring bulbs and your roses.
Perennial love a high phosphate fertilizer with low nitrogen content and fertilizing with this type will give you a lovely array of blossoms at blooming time. In September or October plant your spring bulbs such as tulips and daffodils and feed them with a phosphorus fertilizer at the root level to help get them established before the winter sets in.
As I plant I like to add a little compost as food being sure to plant with the tips up and in a manner that the hole is at least 4 times the height of the bulb. Now is not a good time to fertilize roses, they should be fertilized and cut back after the have gone dormant for the winter.
Fertilizing in the fall only promotes and encourages new growth or simply cut them back and feed them well in the spring when new foliage begins to appear. After fertilizing with a granular time released fertilizer and raking it good into the ground it is a good idea to apply a layer of mulch, then water well allowing it to soak into the ground. A good fall fertilization of your garden will definitely pay off when next spring finally arrives.
About the Author
Eudora DeWynter offers tips on Fall Gardening Tips on her blog athttp:www.gardentoolguru.com
Fall Gardening - Do's & Don'ts by Andy Asbury
We've been trained to believe that certain gardening chores must happen in the fall, or face the risk of an unproductive garden next in the following year. Indeed, some tasks are better taken on in the fall, but contrary to common belief, others can be put off or left out altogether.
Here is a list of some of the fall season do's and don'ts to help your garden thrive in the coming year.
DO clean out any annuals or dead plants in the fall if you don't want to face them in the spring.
DON'T remove dead plants if you want to maintain some vegetation in your garden over the winter. Keep in mind that they will break down over the winter providing compost for your garden. In the spring, simply turn the soil over and they will magically disappear.
DO pull existing weeds in the fall, along with diseased, insect damaged foliage, or rotten fruit or vegetables.
DO wash out your pots and store them away for next season.
DO continue to water your garden and trees until the ground starts to freeze. After our dry summer, even the trees need the extra water to give them the strength to face cold winter months.
DON'T feel the need to mulch all your plants. It does help keep the soil at an even temperature through the winter, and helps to retain moisture, but it is only really necessary for your delicate plants.
DO rake your lawn. Some feel that the leaves will decompose by next spring, so why bother. Raking helps to keep your lawn healthy by improving air circulation and prevent your grass from dying. In addition, the leaves make excellent mulch for the rest of the garden.
DON'T rake if you have only a thin layer of leaves that can be mowed into little pieces.
DO water and fertilize your lawn. Feed your grass at the end of October and it will be better equipped to face the winter months, and healthier in the new season.
DO plant spring bulbs and garlic in the fall. You'll appreciate seeing colorful crocus and daffodils popping up after a long cold winter. Planting garlic in the fall means you can harvest it next July.
DO bring in any plants that won't survive over the winter. Trim your geraniums to about 4 inches in length and store them in a dark, cool location. Shake off any dirt from the roots and dust with sulfur. Next February, repot and place in a sunny window.
DON'T fertilize grass that has been ravaged by drought. In otherwords, this summer, if your lawn was the one in the neighborhood that looked like straw - skip the fertilizer and water it instead.
DO continue to mow your lawn, leaving it about 2 1/2 inches long as winter approaches. Leaving it too long can cause snow mold which may kill your grass.
DO wash off your shovels and garden tools, and make any necessary repairs to ready them for next spring. Now is the time to sand and oil the wood handles with linseed oil. Clean the metal surfaces with a wire brush, sharpen the cutting edges, and apply oil to prevent rust.
About the Author
For information about Minneapolis real estate, visit MinnesotaLoftsAndCondos.com. There you can search all Minneapolis condos for rent, in addition to getting the latest market information for the Twin Cities area.
Here is a list of some of the fall season do's and don'ts to help your garden thrive in the coming year.
DO clean out any annuals or dead plants in the fall if you don't want to face them in the spring.
DON'T remove dead plants if you want to maintain some vegetation in your garden over the winter. Keep in mind that they will break down over the winter providing compost for your garden. In the spring, simply turn the soil over and they will magically disappear.
DO pull existing weeds in the fall, along with diseased, insect damaged foliage, or rotten fruit or vegetables.
DO wash out your pots and store them away for next season.
DO continue to water your garden and trees until the ground starts to freeze. After our dry summer, even the trees need the extra water to give them the strength to face cold winter months.
DON'T feel the need to mulch all your plants. It does help keep the soil at an even temperature through the winter, and helps to retain moisture, but it is only really necessary for your delicate plants.
DO rake your lawn. Some feel that the leaves will decompose by next spring, so why bother. Raking helps to keep your lawn healthy by improving air circulation and prevent your grass from dying. In addition, the leaves make excellent mulch for the rest of the garden.
DON'T rake if you have only a thin layer of leaves that can be mowed into little pieces.
DO water and fertilize your lawn. Feed your grass at the end of October and it will be better equipped to face the winter months, and healthier in the new season.
DO plant spring bulbs and garlic in the fall. You'll appreciate seeing colorful crocus and daffodils popping up after a long cold winter. Planting garlic in the fall means you can harvest it next July.
DO bring in any plants that won't survive over the winter. Trim your geraniums to about 4 inches in length and store them in a dark, cool location. Shake off any dirt from the roots and dust with sulfur. Next February, repot and place in a sunny window.
DON'T fertilize grass that has been ravaged by drought. In otherwords, this summer, if your lawn was the one in the neighborhood that looked like straw - skip the fertilizer and water it instead.
DO continue to mow your lawn, leaving it about 2 1/2 inches long as winter approaches. Leaving it too long can cause snow mold which may kill your grass.
DO wash off your shovels and garden tools, and make any necessary repairs to ready them for next spring. Now is the time to sand and oil the wood handles with linseed oil. Clean the metal surfaces with a wire brush, sharpen the cutting edges, and apply oil to prevent rust.
About the Author
For information about Minneapolis real estate, visit MinnesotaLoftsAndCondos.com. There you can search all Minneapolis condos for rent, in addition to getting the latest market information for the Twin Cities area.
