Leaf litter and garden leftovers support overwintering insects and wildlife. Submitted photo
Brush piles provide winter shelter for wildlife and are disposed of in the spring. Submitted photo
With daylight hours dwindling, we are reminded of this quote from Nathaniel Hawthorne: “I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.” The autumn sun feels inviting after this summer’s heat and drought. As the growing season winds down in USDA Hardiness Zone 6, preparing our garden beds for the winter is important to reduce next year’s pests and diseases. Tackling your chores in an orderly approach sets the stage for a healthy and productive garden next spring.
Start by setting your goals and prioritizing your tasks. Begin by removing your annual flowers, harmful weeds, and diseased annual vegetable plants. Dispose of these materials to avoid overwintering diseases or attracting pests. Keep nonharmful weeds intact, such as clover (Trifolium repens), amaranth (Amaranthus), and dandelions (Taraxacum officinale), as they improve soil conditions and provide nectar for early pollinators.
Remove and compost all healthy, single-season vegetable materials. Prepare garden beds with 2 to 4 inches of compost or mulch. Adding a layer of leaves (shredded or undisturbed) provide s a nesting place for butterfly larvae and beneficial insects.
Perennial beds deserve a layer of mulch or compost. Remove and dispose of diseased perennials, leaving healthy perennials uncut. Seed heads feed native birds and wildlife throughout the winter. Perennials with spent seeds can be cut to a few inches above ground to encourage nesting by overwintering insects. Native bees, moths, lady beetles, fireflies and butterflies also overwinter in hollow stems. Trim peonies (Pae nia l actiflora) to 3 to 4 inches, hosta (Hosta spp.) to 1-2 inches, and daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) flush to the ground. Ornamental grasses can remain uncut for winter interest and shelter for wildlife.
Inspect trees and woody shrubs, pruning back suckers, dead, damaged and diseased wood. Trim or prune healthy trees and shrubs in late winter or early spring. Prune spring-blooming trees and shrubs after they bloom. Keep a small brush pile of wood, bark, and leaves as a mini ecosystem for beneficial insects and wildlife, such as cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, chipmunk, skunk, raccoon, fox, and many bird species, along with some amphibians and reptiles.
Set your mower blades higher than usual for the final cutting, which helps the soil retain moisture and provides shelter for helpful insects. Fallen leaves give nutrition to the soil and shelter for insects and wildlife. Avoid creating layers of matted leaves, which inhibit plant and lawn growth and invite disease. Spread mulched or shredded leaves as a top layer for composted beds, or for insulation around young trees, shrubs, or delicate plants that need winter protection.
When garden cleanup is complete, plant spring-flowering bulb s. In your newly winterized flower beds, plant large bulbs 8 inches deep and smaller bulbs 4 inches deep. Bulbs are best planted close together in groups of the same color, but you can design your spring bulbs to your liking for pops of different colors. Garlic planted now will yield a summer harvest. Berry bushes can be planted now; mound dirt around the base of the shrub to prevent frost heaving, which is the expansion of soil caused by ice forming in the soil.
Be sure to wash, dry, and sharpen garden tools before storing them. Store your tools in a dry, protected shed or basement. They will be waiting for you to commence spring gardening.
Cleaning the garden in fall is a rewarding practice that pays dividends throughout the year. By removing debris, managing weeds, and preparing the soil, gardeners create a healthier environment for plants and wildlife. Don’t be overly meticulous; your garden is to be enjoyed for its natural beauty. The effort invested in autumn maintenance not only enhances the beauty of the garden but ensures a vibrant and thriving space when spring returns. Taking the time to clean and care for the garden in fall is a key step toward gardening success.
If you have questions about fall garden clean up, call the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Butler County Garden Hotline at 724-287-4761, ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.edu.
Elizabeth Painter is a Penn State Extension Butler County Master Gardener.
Elizabeth Painter, Penn State Extension Butler County Master Gardener
Comments are closed.