Fall is a great time for gardening

Fall has just started and this is a good time of the year to get out into the garden. The weather is still quite good, but it is getting cooler, which makes it perfect for gardening.

Plants like this kind of weather too and still grow, maybe not so much above ground, but for sure underground, making it the ideal time of the year for planting. You can continue adding new plants to your garden up to about six weeks before you get frost in this area. This will give them enough time to establish before winter comes. Fall is also the time to plant the fall bulbs that will bloom in the spring.

Do you like to grow your own plants from seeds? This is a good time to collect them. Depending on the variety you can either dry your seeds and store them until next spring or spread them out in your garden where you want them to grow next year.

Early fall is usually the time of year a lot of fruits, vegetables and herbs are ready for harvesting. If you have more than you can eat, you can preserve your harvest for later. Herbs can be tied in small bundles and dried. Hang them in the kitchen for easy access when cooking. Vegetables and fruits can be frozen, dried, canned or juiced. Fruits can also be turned into yummy pies and other baked goods.

You can prepare your garden for winter in the fall by pruning dead and diseased branches from trees and shrubs. After that you can shape them as you wish. Do not prune spring flowering shrubs. When pruned in the fall you will take away their flower buds for next year. You can leave ornamental grasses and perennials as well, because they provide shelter and food for birds during the winter. Some people like to clean up the leaves and some prefer to leave as mulch that provides habitat, nutrients and improves the soil fertility. Leaving the leaves also reduces waste and pollution.

Fall is also a great time to amend some of the flowering beds with a good top soil, 3-in-1 soil and composts of your choice.

For all of you who have the four legged friends (AKA deer troubles), fall is a good time to use Plantskydd repellent against deer, voles, rabbits and any other small critters. It is an organic product so it will be safe for your pets and protect your trees and shrubs. You can also use it in the spring.

The last thing is your lawn. You may want to apply the Dog Prevent in the fall so that you do not have the doggie pee stains in the spring. It is a great product, also organic and also acts as a fertilizer so it protects the lawn somewhat for the long winter months. Enjoy fall gardening. Joyce Swaren is the owner and head horticulturalist at Blondie’s Gift and Garden