Storms of November are marching upon the North Coast. But this doesn’t mean we can forget about gardening. There are always a few good days between swollen cloudbursts that allow us to get the garden chores done. Consider the following:
CHECK THE FRUIT TREES: As soon as leaves drop from peach and nectarine trees it is time to dormant spray with a fixed copper fungicide to prevent peach leaf curl. Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease that causes spring leaves to become distorted, puckered and red. Spraying immediately after leaf drop allows the fungicide to coat the dormant buds, protecting them from the fungus. Raking all fallen leaves after drop also helps keep the disease from taking hold.
Late maturing apple trees are loaded with fruit that fall easily when a brisk storm blows through. Keep the growing area free of decaying, fallen fruit to prevent pests and disease from impacting next year’s crop. Fallen fruit not only attracts rats and other vermin, it also harbors fungal and bacterial diseases.
CHECK HOSES AND SPRINKLERS: Rainy days have arrived. No more dragging about hoses and sprinklers. Now is a good time to check and repair irrigation equipment before storing for the winter.
PROTECT THE SOIL: Fallow areas of the garden, especially vegetable plots, should be protected with a cover crop. Also called green manure crop, vetch, fava bean, field pea and rye cover and protect the soil. These crops also add valuable organic matter, and in the case of field pea, vetch and fava, add valuable nitrogen.
CLEAN UP: Now is a good time to make sure the soil around roses, berries and perennial beds is free of spent flowers and fallen leaves. Pull the weeds. Scratch in a bit of compost and then mulch for a clean, healthy garden.
FALLEN LEAVES HAVE ARRIVED: By now leaves of deciduous trees are blanketing beds and lawn areas. The best thing to do with them is to shred with the lawn mower and then scatter back onto beds and the lawn. Shredded leaves are also an excellent material to add to the compost pile. The easiest thing is to rake or blow them back onto beds, or under shrubs and trees. Here they will matt down and slowly decompose. During the process of slow decomposition all kinds of beneficial bacteria, fungi, insects and bugs will call this concoction their home. Winter birds love scratching about these areas searching for food.
PLANT SOME MORE: Although it does not feel like planting season, now is a good time to be digging. Plant spring flowering bulbs, garlic and cool-season salad greens. This is a wonderful time of year to scuff up some soil in a sunny area and sow wildflower seeds. Take advantage of late fall sale days at the local nurseries. You can find good deals on perennials, shrubs and trees.
Terry Kramer is the retired site manager for the Humboldt Botanical Garden and a trained horticulturist and journalist. She has been writing a garden column for the Times-Standard since 1982. She currently runs a gardening consulting business. Contact her at 707-834-2661 or terrykramer90@gmail.com.
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