Frosty mornings prompt winter-ready yards
You don’t have to check the calendar to see that summer is over. Many areas in Prince George have already been affected by a killing frost, so many frost-tender annuals and vegetables have come to an end. It’s time to start that fall clean up and slowly get the yard ready for the upcoming winter.
Remove the finished annuals from flower beds. Dig them up, shake off any excess soil and toss them in the compost. Only put healthy, disease-free plants in the compost, as you don’t want this year’s problems to become next year’s problems. Diseased plants should be thrown out. Containers filled with annuals can also be dumped into the compost. Empty containers should be washed with a mild bleach solution, and dried before storing them. Frost resistant containers can be left outdoors and perhaps used later in the season for winter displays.
Hardy zone 3 plants that were planted in containers will need to be taken out of the containers and planted into the ground. The entire container with the plant can also be planted into the ground and dug out next spring, or the plant-filled container will need to be overwintered indoors in a cool, above-freezing area such as a heated garage. The plants may be hardy enough to withstand zone 3 winters but they can’t be left above ground in containers as the frost will kill the plant when it penetrates the container.
Geraniums and fuchsias should be brought indoors if you plan on overwintering them. Before bringing them in, spray them with an insecticidal soap to get rid of any unwanted pests. Do the same for all plants coming indoors. Dracaenas (spikes), cypress, and other tender patio plants can be brought indoors and overwintered to be enjoyed next season.
Tender summer flowering bulbs such as dahlias, tuberous begonias, calla and canna lilies and gladiola should be dug up and stored indoors over the winter months. These bulbs/tubers/ corms are not hardy enough to stay outdoors over the winter months. If brought indoors and stored properly, they can be replanted again next spring.
Perennials (plants that come back every year) that are finished blooming can be cut back to 15 cm. It’s better not to cut them down to the ground, because the remaining 15 cm stubble will help trap snow over the winter, creating a protective blanket for the plant and will also act as a plant marker next spring. Perennials such as peonies, lilies and irises can be divided and replanted in the fall, others are better left until next spring to move or divide them.
Apply fall lawn fertilizer (6-312) now, to strengthen the lawn for the winter. Apply 0-0-50 fertilizer to newly planted trees and shrubs to help them through the winter.
Continue to keep up on the watering around trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs. Soil should be kept moist until the frost goes into the ground.