October can be a busy time in the yard. Use the last warm days wisely to make a difference in next year’s garden. Chores that can be completed leisurely on a warm fall day can be rushed during the busy spring season.
The last two months have been warm and dry, which has depleted the moisture in much of the topsoil. Watering trees, shrubs and perennials in October will provide the plants with moisture needed to survive the winter and begin growing next spring. Fall watering is a must for new plantings and evergreens.
Newly planted trees and shrubs need extra water close at hand as they do not have an extensive root system to gather moisture to support the plant.
Evergreens transpire all year. They need to absorb as much moisture as possible to keep their stems, needles and scales hydrated during the months when the roots can’t absorb water from the frozen ground.
Purchase and plant fall bulbs now. Daffodils, tulips, scillia and grape hyacinths are bulbs that will consistently provide colour in the early spring garden in Central Alberta. There are other bulbs that will flourish but only if they are given a special spot.
When purchasing spring bulbs, choose ones that are free of cuts, blemishes and mould. The larger the bulb, for that variety, the better show it will produce next spring.
Prune deciduous trees and shrubs from now until next spring. Keep in mind that pruning spring-blooming plants now will remove next year’s blooms. Removing older stems from a shrub allows the light to penetrate the centre of the plant, encouraging new growth at the base of the plant, preventing it from becoming leggy.
Weed, weed, weed. Weeds are like perennial plants. They might look like they are dormant on top but in reality their roots are still active until the ground freezes. Perennial weeds left in place will continue gathering nutrients and expanding their root system, ready to take over a larger area next spring. Removing the weeds now will make spring work lighter.
Cutting back the tops of perennials in the fall is optional. Removing the foliage of perennials in the fall means a clean garden and less work in the spring. If rodents are a problem, it also eliminates their winter homes, making it harder for them to eat the plants in the bed.
Leaving foliage helps insulate plants from the extreme cold and shifting temperatures that can occur over the winter months. Foliage also helps capture snow and create shapes, bumps and shadows in the winter landscape.
Take time to put away all hoses, tools and plant pots. It is much easier to take something out when needed than hunt for items after it snows.
Covering tender plants with at least six inches (15 cm) of mulch will provide protection from the extreme cold and changing temperatures. Protective mulch can be anything that insulates while allowing air to circulate; leaves, straw, peatmoss or grass work well. When using a protective mulch, spread it over the plant or bed that needs extra protection, taking care to remove all excess air pockets from around plants.
Mulch is less important on years when the snow falls early and stays for the entire season. Snow is nature’s insulator. In years that snow comes early and stays late, there is very little winterkill.
Placing a thin layer of humus — compost, manure or peatmoss — over a bed will improve the soil texture and nutrient level. Over time, the worms will mix the organic matter into the original soil.
There are still many things to be done to produce a spectacular garden next year. Spend time this fall working in the garden to allow a more leisurely pace next spring.
Linda Tomlinson is a horticulturalist that lives near Rocky Mountain House. She can be reached at www.igardencanada.com or your_garden@hotmail.com.