Each evening, I spend about 10 minutes preparing for the next morning. It is a habit started a few years ago that makes my mornings less busy. I choose and set out my clothes, put water in the tea kettle, and make my overnight oats. I also set out the dishes and utensils needed for breakfast, set out my dog’s food and review what I need to do the next day. Evenings are generally less busy, and by doing things the night before, it gives me a head start on the next day. It makes the next day more pleasant and productive.
Fall, although a great time to work outside, are generally less busy than the spring time. There are gardening tasks that can be done this fall to insure a more successful and less stressful spring. A bit of extra work this fall can lead to a healthier lawn and plants next year.
A healthy lawn relies on nutrients. Sometimes those nutrients are found naturally in the soil, but often supplemental fertilizers are needed to strengthen Kentucky blue, perennial rye, and fescue grasses. Milorganite is an organic fertilizer that can be applied in late fall between Halloween and Thanksgiving and before the ground is frozen. Dormant lawn fertilization helps lawns recover from winter damage such as snow mold and vole damage.
An organic compost such as mushroom compost can also be applied in the fall also. When applied to planting beds, this compost improves the soil structure, aids in moisture retention and slowly releases valuable nutrients to the roots of nearby plants. Clay soil is very common in this area and compost provides a source of much needed organic matter.
Fall is an excellent time to test your soil. Some tests can be done at home for free. The ribbon test and the soil texture jar test are two examples. Public and private companies offer soil testing services. The Lawn to Lake Midwest organization offers quite a bit information through their website www.lawntolakemidwest.org regarding soil testing. They have directions on how to take a soil sample, where to send your soil and understanding the results of your soil sample test. The results may help you develop a plan for next spring.
Ceramic and clay pots, while beautiful can be expensive. Properly cleaning and storing them this fall will minimize the chance that they will be damaged over the winter. Planters should be emptied of the soil and washed out with a diluted solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. They should be stored in the garage or a basement. Gardening tools should also be cleaned and sharpened before they are stored for the winter. Once they are cleaned consider giving them a light coat of oil. Applying mineral oil or WD-40 will minimize the chance that they will rust.
Although most water spigots that are installed these days are considered to be frost free, it may be wise to shut off the water supply to them this fall. Unfortunately, I have seen the damage that can occur if outside water spigots are not properly winterized. If you have any questions regarding this, consider reaching out to a plumber.
Starting a gardening journal now allows homeowners to document their successes and where there is room for improvement. By noting what worked and didn’t work, it will be easier to determine what to do or avoid in the future. Simply observing your garden is a wonderful thing to do in the fall and will help determine what, if anything needs to be done in the spring.
As a general rule, most annual flowers should be removed from the ground before it freezes. It is a good gardening practice to remove dead and diseased foliage. Some plants that are considered annuals may actually come back if left in the ground. Certain annual flowers such as lyssum, dusty miller and snapdragons when left in the ground will occasionally make it through the winter.
Frost cracking on shade trees during the winter can lead to open wounds on the trees for years. Frost cracking usually occurs on the south or west sides of shade trees. It is a vertical line or break in the bark that can be a few inches to a few feet in size. Maple and Linden tress are often vulnerable to this type of damage. Tree wrap, similar to a heavy-duty crepe paper, can be used to protect the tree from the sun’s rays and minimize the change of the expansion and contraction of the bark throughout the winter.
I hope that by implementing one or two of these items this fall, your spring will be filled with a healthy lawn and beautiful flowers.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
