Cottage Farms Direct

Fall clean up in the garden is made up of a few quick and easy tasks which will pay huge dividends in the upcoming year.

Fall Clean Up

As annuals stop blooming or die, pull them up and throw them on the compost pile.
Lift and store tender bulbs.
Stake young trees to help protect from wind damage.
Completely clear the garden of weeds before they drop their seeds and create a problem for next year.
Cut herbaceous perennials to 2-3" tall and toss the scraps on the compost pile.
Give all plants a long, deep watering so that they are fully hydrated for winter.
Remove all leaf debris, twigs, and miscellaneous organic material that can harbor pests and disease.
Empty clay pots of annuals. Bring the pots inside to keep them from freezing and cracking.
Take down unused stakes and empty trellises to clean for reuse next spring.

Fall Pruning

Remove and discard dead or broken branches on shrubs and trees.
Prune shrubs and roses no later than 4 weeks before the first frost so that the fresh cuts have time to harden off and callous over.
Cut herbaceous perennials to 2-3" tall and toss the scraps in the compost bin.

Fall Mulching

A fresh layer of mulch in the fall helps reduce water loss, suppress weed growth, and protect plants from extreme temperature swings.

Commonly used mulches:

Watering

A deep root watering is needed prior to the first freeze. Gradually reduce the watering for your plants from a daily watering to weekly watering to monthly throughout fall and winter.
Allow the water to extend beyond the drip line of trees and large shrubs. A thirsty plant going into the cold season will be much more susceptible to winter damage than a well-watered one
If you made a basin around the base of the plant/shrub to hold water during spring and summer months, make a hole in it so water can drain away and not freeze the plant.
Monitor weather conditions and water during extended dry periods without snow cover - one to two times per month.

Fall clean up in the garden is made up of a few quick and easy tasks which will pay huge dividends in the upcoming year.

Fall Clean Up

As annuals stop blooming or die, pull them up and throw them on the compost pile.
Lift and store tender bulbs.
Stake young trees to help protect from wind damage.
Completely clear the garden of weeds before they drop their seeds and create a problem for next year.
Cut herbaceous perennials to 2-3" tall and toss the scraps on the compost pile.
Give all plants a long, deep watering so that they are fully hydrated for winter.
Remove all leaf debris, twigs, and miscellaneous organic material that can harbor pests and disease.
Empty clay pots of annuals. Bring the pots inside to keep them from freezing and cracking.
Take down unused stakes and empty trellises to clean for reuse next spring.

Fall Pruning

Remove and discard dead or broken branches on shrubs and trees.
Prune shrubs and roses no later than 4 weeks before the first frost so that the fresh cuts have time to harden off and callous over.
Cut herbaceous perennials to 2-3" tall and toss the scraps in the compost bin.

Fall Mulching

A fresh layer of mulch in the fall helps reduce water loss, suppress weed growth, and protect plants from extreme temperature swings.

Commonly used mulches:

Watering

A deep root watering is needed prior to the first freeze. Gradually reduce the watering for your plants from a daily watering to weekly watering to monthly throughout fall and winter.
Allow the water to extend beyond the drip line of trees and large shrubs. A thirsty plant going into the cold season will be much more susceptible to winter damage than a well-watered one
If you made a basin around the base of the plant/shrub to hold water during spring and summer months, make a hole in it so water can drain away and not freeze the plant.
Monitor weather conditions and water during extended dry periods without snow cover - one to two times per month.

Fall clean up in the garden is made up of a few quick and easy tasks which will pay huge dividends in the upcoming year.

Fall Clean Up

As annuals stop blooming or die, pull them up and throw them on the compost pile.
Lift and store tender bulbs.
Stake young trees to help protect from wind damage.
Completely clear the garden of weeds before they drop their seeds and create a problem for next year.
Cut herbaceous perennials to 2-3" tall and toss the scraps on the compost pile.
Give all plants a long, deep watering so that they are fully hydrated for winter.
Remove all leaf debris, twigs, and miscellaneous organic material that can harbor pests and disease.
Empty clay pots of annuals. Bring the pots inside to keep them from freezing and cracking.
Take down unused stakes and empty trellises to clean for reuse next spring.

Fall Pruning

Remove and discard dead or broken branches on shrubs and trees.
Prune shrubs and roses no later than 4 weeks before the first frost so that the fresh cuts have time to harden off and callous over.
Cut herbaceous perennials to 2-3" tall and toss the scraps in the compost bin.

Fall Mulching

A fresh layer of mulch in the fall helps reduce water loss, suppress weed growth, and protect plants from extreme temperature swings.

Commonly used mulches:

Watering

A deep root watering is needed prior to the first freeze. Gradually reduce the watering for your plants from a daily watering to weekly watering to monthly throughout fall and winter.
Allow the water to extend beyond the drip line of trees and large shrubs. A thirsty plant going into the cold season will be much more susceptible to winter damage than a well-watered one
If you made a basin around the base of the plant/shrub to hold water during spring and summer months, make a hole in it so water can drain away and not freeze the plant.
Monitor weather conditions and water during extended dry periods without snow cover - one to two times per month.

Fall Clean Up - Putting the Garden to Bed