What to do with your garden in September?
06 Sep 2019
The leaves will soon change color and it is now time to prepare the yard and the flowerbeds before the cold weather arrives, because no one wants a yard that is in bad shape after the snow melts! Here are a few things you can do to protect your outside plants.
Tropical Plants: Take Cover!
Palm trees, Pink Laurels, Hibiscus and any other exotic plants must be kept warm. To avoid heat shock, it is possible to do this gradually (take the plants into your home two hours a day, then four, then eight… then up to a full day).
Protecting Potted Plants
Point 1 also applies to local potted plants. However, it is also possible to leave potted plants outside by covering them with protective equipment. Some will choose to store them in the shed or in the garage (whether they are heated or not).
New Trees to Plant
Autumn is the perfect time for planting new trees, shrubs and conifers. The cold has not yet arrived, and the sun is not powerful, which is ideal for solidifying the roots of young trees.
Pretty Flowerbeds… Even in Fall!
Why stop gardening at the end of summer? It is still possible to grow plants at this time of year! For example, fall Chrysanthemums or Anemones from Japan are late bloomers. Your yard will surely look great with lively flowerbeds!
To Reorganize or Not to Reorganize!
Are you happy with the look of your plants this year? Take a picture of your flowerbeds with the names of each plant so you can recreate the same arrangement next spring. Otherwise, it’s time to write down your slipups so you don’t repeat them next year!
Perennial Management
Because they stay in the garden all year round, perennials need care before winter. Remove excess plants, replant them if necessary and remove all weeds.
In Search of Summer Bulbs
Some flowers and plants can be kept indoors during the cold season. Dig up their bulbs and keep them in a well-ventilated cardboard box in your heated garage or basement.
Shrubs: Treat Them with Care
As early as August, a phenomenon called cold hardening occurs in trees and shrubs: they harden in preparation for winter. To help them make sure this process goes well, it is advised to cut the yellowed branches and remove the dead leaves from the ground (to allow aeration and penetration of the sun’s rays).
Cutting Hedges
To avoid degradation and decay, experts recommend cutting hedges one last time in the fall. Also, remove anything at the base such as thorns or dead leaves.
Unplug and Clean
In the fall, any organized gardener closes water supplies, cleans tools and stores them to avoid breakage and loss. How about you?
Your plants are now ready to face the winter… and you are ready to take a well-deserved break from gardening tasks!
