While there are still a few more weeks to enjoy what's left of the growing season, it is also time to start thinking about what you will need to do to put the gardens to bed for winter. The best tactic to take is to break the tasks up into the following: cutting back, cleaning up, planting, protecting and preparing for spring.
Cutting back:
Perennials should be cut back to the place where the stalks join the roots. Leave ornamental grasses in their dried state until spring for a bit of landscaping interest during the winter months. While pruning of shrubs is very often best to leave until spring, dead or damaged limbs can be removed any time.
Cleaning up:
Annual plants including vegetable plants should be completely removed. Harvest all of the vegetables and fruits leaving nothing behind to rot and attract animals. Same for over grown areas remove and clean up so that you can avoid animal nesting. Dry leaves can be tilled in to the soil in the vegetable and annual beds.
Plant:
Plant your bulbs for bloom in the spring. See our blog from last week: http://www.landscapebeautybydesignmi.com/blog/Its-Time-for-Fall-Bulbs%21_AE19.html . This is also the perfect time to plant shrubs and trees until the freeze. Make sure you water their roots generously.
Protect:
Add soil and mulch around your garden as needed and cover delicate shrubs and bushes by driving wooden stakes into ground around the shrub, then wrapping burlap around the stakes and stapling it to the stakes.
Prepare for spring:
Shred your leaves so you can use them for mulch. Once you completely weed your beds lay the mulch down to contain weeds in the spring and protect your plants.
http://www.landscapebeautybydesignmi.com/blog/Putting-Your-Garden-to-Bed_AE20.html
Have questions or need landscaping assistance? Please contact Beth at 734-732-8200 or visit her website at http://www.landscapebeautybydesignmi.com/
