Prioritize garden chores when time is short, skies are gray
As the days grow shorter and shorter, the time we gardeners have to accomplish all the tasks to prepare our gardens for winter and to help them wake up healthy and happy in spring becomes precious. And with all the rain we had in October, it was a challenge to sometimes even get in the garden.
When time is running short, prioritize garden chores just in case snowflakes fall before everything's been checked off the list.
One thing that we don't have to worry about is watering trees and shrubs as long as we continue to get sufficient rainfall in November. They have had ample water to prepare them for winter.
Make time to cut back perennials prone to diseases or insects, like peonies, bee balm, German irises and garden phlox, and get rid of the foliage instead of composting it. Perennials that reseed themselves across the garden should also be cut back before they have a chance to scatter their seed.
Remove perennials with spreading rhizomes that are bullying their way across the garden now or they will do a hostile takeover of even more space in spring. If time remains, cut back perennials whose stems are too weak to stand up during snowfalls.
Consider leaving perennials with ornamental qualities or wildlife value standing for the winter.
Perennials with attractive seed heads are even prettier when they are dusted with snow. In addition to providing winter interest in the landscape and food or shelter to birds and other wildlife, it lessens the amount of time cutting back perennials in fall.
Get rid of all fallen vegetables and plant debris in the vegetable garden. Any plant material that may harbor insects or diseases should not be composted. Remove plant supports and clean them with a bleach and water solution to disinfect them before putting them away for the winter.
Even when time is short, it's important to note which vegetables were planted where so crops can be rotated next year. Do this by making a quick sketch or snapping a photo. Don't trust your memory. Add a thick layer of compost or shredded leaves and work it in the top six inches of soil where it will break down and improve the soil for growing next year's vegetables.
After the ground freezes, mulch around perennials prone to frost heaving. Shredded leaves or hardwood mulch are good options. Evergreen boughs left over after designing winter containers are also a good choice.
Find time to do a final weeding, not often a favorite garden chore, of all beds and borders. Weeds scatter seeds or spread by rhizomes quickly throughout the garden. Those left to overwinter in the garden will get off to a quick start in spring. If it is impossible to get them all, at least weed along the edges of all gardens — it will make you feel better as you look at the landscape through frosted windows.
My least favorite, but very important, task is cleaning garden tools. Removing dirt and early signs of rust and sharpening dull edges will keep shovels, hoes and edgers in good condition. Clean and sharpen pruners so they will be ready for action in spring. Even if snow makes it impossible to finish some of the projects in the garden, cleaning tools can be done on a snowy day.
After prioritizing fall garden chores, take them one at a time, keep an eye on the weather and remain calm. Whatever doesn't get done in fall will wait until spring!
• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist, garden writer and speaker. She blogs at gardenwithdiana.com.