Cooler weather is just one of the many reasons we love fall gardening. In addition to keeping fresh produce on your table, this season offers fewer pests and diseases, less watering to be done and sweeter tasting produce. Here’s what should be next on your to-do list.
Lawns
- Continue mowing your lawn as needed. Keep the mowing height to 2.5-3 inches. In mid-October you can gradually start decreasing your mowing height until you reach 2 inches for your last mowing for the season.
- Continue watering your lawn to retain moisture through the entire root zone. Do not shut off your sprinklers until later in the season to make sure the root zone does not dry out.
- Fall is a great time to kill broadleaf weeds. Spray Fertilome Weed Free Zone to kill off weeds. This chemical can be applied with temps ranging from 45-80.
- Wait to apply Fertilome Winterizer fertilizer until October when temps are decreasing.
Gardens
- Continue to harvest vegetables until finished.
- As plants finish, pull out annual plants and dispose of them. This helps to reduce diseases reoccurring next spring.
Perennials, Trees and Shrubs
- Some perennials such as peonies, iris and lilies may be able to be cut back if their foliage has turned yellow/brown.
- Any shrubs that have stopped blooming can be trimmed (keep in mind that spring bloomers will have their buds set and will be trimmed off with trimming).
- Remember to plant fall bulbs (bulbs that flower in the spring) this fall when temperature highs are in the fifties.
- After we receive a killing frost you can transplant and divide perennials. When dividing make sure each piece has an adequate root zone. Peonies and Iris can be done before a killing frost if foliage is beginning to dry down.
- This is a great time to be planting perennials, shrubs and trees! Warm soil temps and cool air temps is a perfect recipe for successful plantings. Remember to keep your new plantings well-watered.
