Now’s the time to get busy on fall garden cleanup
Q Time to put my garden to bed. What should I do to the garden before winter sets in? It seems like I’m always late preparing the gardens, just like last year. — Becky, Amherstburg
A You are right Becky. Before you know it winter will be upon us.
One important area is fall cleanup.
Gardeners have differing opinions on cutting back perennials at season’s end.
Some prefer to cut back in the fall, favouring the neatness of a bare winter landscape or that decaying plant material can cause mould and other fungal diseases.
Plant matter also provides a safe place for overwintering garden pests. However, leaving old growth serves to shelter good insects (ladybugs, lacewing, mason bees etc.) and eggs, and many other predators or pollinators to carry on their work for us next year.
One reason to cut back in spring is you may be tired of gardening.
But one chore that should be done is a final weeding to help improve the appearance of your garden through autumn. Any weed you eliminate now will prevent possibly hundreds of weeds from sprouting in your garden next spring.
When tomatoes are no more, compost the plant.
Pruning dormant trees and shrubs can be done at any time during the late winter months, so put off that job until a warm day.
Now, however, is the time to protect the trunks of trees against winter’s harsh winds, mice and rabbit damage. Trees not subject to winter scald, either because they’re in a sheltered location or by their lighter trunk colour, may not need extra care.
Other fall chores include cleaning and storing garden tools and equipment, bringing in planters or decor that could be damaged by freezing temperatures, and draining and storing garden hoses.
Take time to reflect on the satisfaction and joy that gardening provided you this past year and to think of the seasons still to come.
Q I’m new to gardening. What should I do with a tomato plant after it has stopped making tomatoes? Do I cut it back and save it in the house for next spring? Do they need lots of light during the day or can they have shade in the after noon? — Amy, Leamington
A Tomatoes need full sun, but will take some light shade. They are annual plants and, once they are done, they will die. In the fall, when the tomatoes are finished producing fruit, just dig them up and toss them. If you have a compost pile, compost them if the plants look healthy, or send to the landfill to be composted. Don’t worry about being new to gardening, just have fun and enjoy growing things!