now is the time to put those plants to bed!

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) -Attention gardeners: with frost creeping into parts of Anchorage, now is the time to put those plants to bed!

Will Criner with the Alaska Botanical Garden says there’s very little right or wrong when it comes to cutting plants back-or not. He said most plants survive in nature without human help, but there are advantages to doing the job in the fall so you don’t have to do it in the spring.

When it comes to annuals, Criner said there’s no need to pull them. Criner said he generally cuts them back to the ground but leaves the root system in place. That way, he said, the roots can break down and enrich the soil over the winter. If woody clumps of roots remain in the spring, it’s easier to remove them then.

Perennials can be left in place or cut back to give a tidier look. Criner said he will sometimes take the cut stalks of plants and spread them around the base of the plant to act as a cover. Plants that have had signs of disease should be cut back and the stalks and leaves should be removed from the garden, ideally to a compost pile, to make sure that viruses or other disease don’t spread into new growth.

Even though weeding seems like something gardeners can finally be free of in the fall, Criner said there are benefits to removing seed bearing weeds now so that they don’t pop up so quickly in the spring. He also advised removing metal stakes or cages from plants which can freeze and retain the cold, causing damage to plants.

Finally, Criner reminds gardeners that bare soil is rarely found in nature. It’s important to insulate gardens by putting a layer of leaves, mulch or compost on the ground around plants, particularly those that have been cut back.

The Alaska Botanical Garden is hosting a hands-on class for those interested in learning more about winterizing their gardens. The class is presented by Boreal Bioscapes, Sunday October 5, from noon to 1:30 pm. The cost is $27 for members and $32 for nonmembers.

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