Well, now it is officially fall! And what a summer it's been, one I'm sure we won't forget! By now, you might be starting on your fall "to do" list; let's go over some things that could be done at this time of year.
If you're cleaning up your garden, remember that you shouldn't throw your tomato plants, potato tops, and even your peppers or eggplants onto your compost. This has been a year of blight, and you want to make sure you dispose of those plants in the garbage.
Be sure to clean up any loose leaves that were laying around the infected plants as well, and throw them in the garbage.
In dealing with perennials, opinions are mixed about whether to cut them back or not. On one hand, if you don't cut them back till spring, the stems can catch snow over the winter and provide moisture for the plants in the spring. Also, some plants are very decorative and provide winter interest when the stems poke through the snow.
On the other hand, if you cut them back now, you have one less task to do in the spring. And it can be a messy job to cut back old stems and leaves in the spring, so that's another thing to consider. But I have also read that by cutting them now, you might possibly expose the plant to disease. I'm not sure what diseases could survive the chilly nights that lie just ahead, but if you have some prized plants that you are taking extra care with, you might want to be cautious.
I guess there are good points to each approach, so probably what it comes down to is how much time you have right now! We have gone both ways in our garden with almost identical results. There is something very satisfying about trimming things up and tidying up and feeling all ready for winter. There is also something very lovely about seeing some plants in a winter setting, like the round seed heads of allium, sparkling with frost, or the stately stems of delphinium rising out of a drift of snow.
Remember, it is still too early to wrap your cedars or tender shrubs in burlap; you want to wait until later in the fall for that. And if you're planting any new perennials, be sure to water them in well to help the roots get settled. And be sure to label them! It's easy to forget what those new arrivals are, and first thing in the spring, when you see that little clump of dried twigs, you'll be scratching your head, wondering! My sweet hubby is very organized and always has a felt marker and marking stake at the ready! (Here's a little hint: when we got new vinyl blinds, I saved the old ones and we cut them into six inch pieces and use them for markers. They're not as permanent as wooden markers, but they certainly work well because you can write on them easily with a felt marker!)
The next meeting of the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society takes place on Wednesday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Yorkdale Student Centre. Our special guest will be Maira Waechli from Florissima, showing us how to do Christmas floral arrangements. Maira does beautiful work, and I know we'll learn a lot! So make plans to join us! And remember, you don't have to be a member to come to the meeting! And a note to our members, remember to bring your garden photo or photos for our photo album!
Till next time, have a great week!
