It’s that time of the year when, however much we try to keep the gardening spirit alive and active, we have to face the fact that our Ontario climate has the last word. Over the next couple of weeks it is time to wind down the season as far as outdoor gardening is concerned. There are many tasks that need to be carried out in order to reap the benefit of a healthy and flourishing garden come spring. Here are a few tips to get you on your way.
The Perennial Garden
Although it’s a good idea to trim back and tidy plants, don’t be too hasty. Some plants, such as those with healthy seed heads, for example Echinacea, Rudbeckia and Sedum, provide a visual interest well into the winter and the birds will thank you for providing additional food, as supplies begin to diminish and the cold season approaches. If you do decide to trim back the plants, leave about 30cm to trap winter snows. This will assist in insulating the soil and prevent deadly root exposure due to the freeze/thaw cycle.
Ensure that all plants, and this also includes small trees and shrubs, receive plenty of water before the ground freezes. Pay special attention to areas that do not easily receive natural rain water, such as beneath the evestroughs. It is important that you clean up any diseased plant debris from plants and surrounding soil in order reduce the chances of a repeat performance of fungal disease next year. Don’t add this to your compost, toss it in the garbage bin.
Roses
Remove any diseased or broken branches. Lightly trim back any extra long pieces that are likely to whip around and snap in the wind. But, leave pruning until spring. This is important as pruning or pinching back growth encourages new multiple growth. At this time of the year this new succulent growth, that will naturally develop, will not be able to withstand the rigours of frost and falling temperatures. When you prune in the spring this growth will thrive and become the basis of the new season’s development, which will flourish and prosper.
New Flower Beds
This is a great time to dig out new flower beds in preparation for planting next spring. Mark out your proposed bed. A hose pipe is always useful for this before you haul it off into the shed or garage for winter storage. Roughly dig over the soil and simply leave the clods as they lay. The freeze/thaw cycle comes into its own here and will gradually break down the clumps of soil during the winter months and make it far easier to work in the spring. This is especially good if your garden is based on clay. Simply dig over in spring working in plenty of compost and composted manure.
Compost Heap
I have long been an ardent fan of composting. To be frank, I credit ‘finished compost’ for the greatest degree of the success that I enjoy in my garden (and you thought it was my skill as a garden designer). I have recently added a further two jumbo-sized bins to my already extensive collection - you can never have too much compost. I cover my entire garden with 2.5cm of finished compost every fall and, at this time of the year, all those leaves are beckoning. This weekend I will be raking to start the cycle again - and when I am not raking, I will be stealing the bagged leaves from the end of my neighbours’ driveways (their loss)!
When adding fallen leaves to my composters I layer in a sprinkling of Green Earth Compost Accelorator to get the whole process off to a good start. Composting is satisfying, it’s great for your garden and it’s free.
Lawns
This is the time for that last application of fertilizer for the year. This will keep your lawn healthy and ticking over until spring arrives again. CIL Winterizer is an excellent slow-release lawn fertilizer. Your lawn will thank you for a fall application come spring.
Roses, Trees and Shrubs
Unless you have extremely hardy roses, such as the Canadian Explorer roses, specially bred for our Canadian winters, you will need to build up the s
