Planting perennials, mulching among things you can do this fall

Your garden is fading, it's just that time of year, and there's nothing to be done except cozy up indoors and plan for next spring.

Unless you listen to Shawna Coronado, author of the new "Illinois Getting Started Garden Guide."

We asked the Warrenville resident, known for her garden blogs and speeches here and abroad, what we should do in the garden before the snow flies.

At least since her first book six years ago, "Gardening Nude," Coronado has espoused green or environmentally friendly gardening and living.

By the way, according to her website, shawnacoronado.com, "nude" is a "metaphoric (although attention-catching) expression which means to strip away the negative excuses, get off your fanny, and get out into nature to better improve your health and lifestyle."

And she believes that green gardening, which can include native plants and removing bugs by hand rather than using poisons, is better for all families, communities and the environment.

"It's a mainstream book," said Coronado. "When the publisher (Cool Springs Press of Minneapolis) first approached me about writing a book, I explained how I grow without chemicals. They said 'This is you and you've been a successful gardener this way.' They have been absolutely wonderful in their support."

Here are October gardening ideas from this apostle of green and low maintenance:

Plant some more

First, unless this crazy weather has brought temperatures consistently in the 30s, you have a small window before the ground freezes to plant perennials, trees and shrubs.

"They will soon go into dormancy," she said. "This means that instead of a new plant that has heavy watering requirements so that you have to water for three to four months through summer, you will only have to water for a few weeks until the perennials go to sleep."

And if you want bulbs that will pop up in February and March to promise winter is ending, try Glory-of-the snow (Chionodoxa luciliae), Winter aconite (Eranthis hyernalis), Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis and Netted iris (Iris reticulate).

Gold for the garden

Of course, fall is the only time of year you can make leaf mold compost. Coronado insists this stuff is so wonderful - better than regular compost - and easy to make that "you'll be stealing your neighbors' leaves."

All you do is make the biggest pile of leaves you can - somewhere out back where you and your neighbors don't have to look at it - turn it when you can, and in two years you will have super compost. If you are impatient, start with shredded leaves in the shade, keep it moist and turn it several times. "In spring it might still look like a leaf pile, but dig inside and you will find crumbly soil. It's brilliant and free."

Alternatively you can do this inside plastic bags if that works better on your property than a leaf pile.

Spring will come

This is obviously the time to plan for next spring, and could be very important if your garden has suffered a huge climate change. Perhaps like Coronado you lost an ash tree and see crispy hostas and ferns where green once ruled. Or maybe a young tree is finally growing, and your sun-loving plants are getting leggy. Believe it or not, Coronado says if you mulch and water the first year or so shade plants might adapt to the sun. "At the end of the summer they might be looking a little sunburned. I can live with that. If they look like that at the beginning of the summer, I would definitely move them." Sun-lovers could adapt, too. But take a good look at your garden now and take some photos. If there's a swath of brown or plants that did not flower, you might eventually want to move them. "Roses are a great example. If it doesn't do well and gets blackspot, I might dig it up and move it."

Mulch!

And what's the most important thing you can do this fall (besides curl up with Coronado's book, of course)? Mulch! "Mulching protects the bases and root systems of plants, thereby helping the plants survive the winter. Mulch well before the first hard frost, being sure not to smother the plants. Last year was a tough, cold season, and several of my perennials did not make it through those Arctic temperatures. Mulching will give your prized perennials that extra bit of protection."

Seeds

Another thing you can do only in fall is collect seeds. With large seeds Coronado recommends sprinkling them from the plant into a paper envelope. Or put a small paper bag over the flower head, bend the plant over and snip the flower heads off just above the top of the paper bag. After you have captured several heads, turn the bag upside down and wrap a rubber band tightly around the top of the bag. "Label and let this dry over winter in a cool, dark place. In the spring when you open the bag and remove the plants, all the seeds will be at the bottom of the bag." And here's a great idea for holiday cards for special friends. Squeeze a cherry tomato or a seedy piece of a large one in a paper towel or napkin, let it dry on the counter top, and you can cut pieces of plantable paper for holiday cards for friends.

Bad stuff

Fungi can thrive in wet, cool summers like we've had. Variations include powdery mildew and blackspot on roses. Leaves obviously infected with fungus should go out with yard waste, not into a compost pile. "Make sure you keep the area clean. If you let fungus-infected leaves drop you can get a net of fungus around the bottom of the plant. I water from the bottom (don't put water on the leaves) and let the plant dry out between waterings, especially if we have had a lot of rain earlier in the season." Mulch and ground cover around plants can hold in the moisture and reduce the need for watering.

Magic carpet

If you want to turn an area of lawn into a garden for next year (Coronado chose her front yard), now is the time to dig up the sod and mix compost into the soil. And if you use the easier method of laying down old carpet or dark plastic or newspapers to smother the grass, you will want to do that in the fall. "That piece of old carpet is not very attractive. But in the snow, nobody cares."