Fall Gardening

Fall, the most important season in the garden

Spring seems to get all of the attention, which is understandable because everyone is anxious to be finished with winter and get back out into the garden.

Fall has traditionally been viewed as the end of the line, basically time to pick the tomatoes and rake leaves before everything freezes. In reality though, fall is the most important season in the garden.

Spring is a growth season, while fall is an establishment season. In spring, you get amazing foliage growth and flowering, while in fall you get spectacular root growth and an extended period of time to settle in.

Fall means a second chance for gardeners to do all those things we didn't get around to in the spring. If you feel the urge to work in the garden, but are not quite sure what to do, this reminder list should help. Enjoy the process.

Planting . . . Planting hardy trees, shrubs and perennials in the fall gives you much stronger and better established plants the next spring or summer. Be sure not to plant too deep. The cooler weather of fall creates a perfect opportunity for plants to establish in a low stress environment.

Clean it Up . . . Fall cleanup is an important endeavor, and is necessary to keep your yard running at top speed. Just remember that whatever you don't clean up now will still be waiting for you in the spring, and will probably be much more difficult to deal with. As perennial plants begin to die back for the winter, clean up old stalks and foliage that are no longer serving an ornamental purpose. Pull up and discard the annuals as they die back.

Give your trees a boost with tree nutrition . . . As the temperatures cool, and even after trees lose their leaves, tree roots are in their most active growth period. Give your trees and shrubs a nutrient boost about one month after the first killing frost, but before the soil freezes.

Weed Control . . . Little fall weeds become big spring weeds. Many of our common lawn weeds sprout in the fall, grow a healthy root system in the winter, and then explode in the spring. By applying weed killer in the fall, you can get many weeds when they are young, before they become difficult to eradicate.

Water trees and shrubs . . . Plants, especially evergreens, should be well hydrated entering winter. Deep soak them weekly until the ground freezes.

Rake leaves. . . Rake leaves and other debris from your lawn, making your yard more attractive. Moreover, removing leaves and debris prevents mold and other diseases from forming over the winter months. A thick layer of leaves can create a dense blanket over the lawn, keeping it from "breathing" and growing into its full potential. An easy way to remove fallen leaves is to spread the leaves out and mow them with a mulching mower. Mow again, this time bagging the chopped grass and leaves. Put the grass and leaves on your garden and till or turn them in. This is a great source of organic material.

For Beautiful Roses . . . Deep soak weekly up until the ground freezes. After the leaves fall off the trees is the time to winterize your rose bushes. Remove any diseased leaves from or around the plants and discard in the garbage. Mound soil, compost, soil pep or tree leaves 12"-14" deep on the base of each bush. Rose collars from Pinehurst are an easy way to keep the mulch up around the stems. Don't prune or fertilize roses until late spring.

Take time to relax and enjoy the beautiful warm days of fall in your yard.

For all your gardening needs visit Pinehurst Floral & Greenhouse at 4101 Poleline Rd., Pocatello, ID, and pinehurstfloralandgreenhouse.com.