Today my friend and fellow gardener, Susan Boehm, will share with you how to achieve great fall color and prepare for the colder temperatures ahead...
The first time I heard "putting my garden to bed" I had no idea what they were talking about. However, after years of gardening I came to understand. The coolness of fall, after the summer heat, is the perfect time to ready the garden for winter. Also fall is the best times to plant perennials. Planting in October will allow the plants to develop roots and store energy before the winter. And a major payoff is that the garden will be in good shape next spring.
The first priority is to consider which perennials should be cut back, even if some of the flowers are still blooming. By cutting them back in late summer and early fall the plants have time to grow new leaves and thereby store extra energy before cold weather. A moderate trim is better than letting them bloom profusely till they have nothing left. Good candidates include zebra hollyhocks (Malva zebrine) and Blanket flower (gaillardia). I also like to trim annuals in early fall so that they will produce wonderful color for fall.
Fall is also the time to divide plants. A few examples of plants to divide in the fall include, Irises, asters, chrysanthemums, Daisies, Irises, Hostas, Phlox, ferns, Black-eyed Susan and Echinacea (cone flower). These flowers truly benefit from division every three to 4 years. Extras can be shared with friends and dividing will also help to maintain their vigor.
An excellent way to prevent disease and pests in the perennial garden next spring is to clean up garden beds in the fall. Debris and infected plants can harbor insects and diseases and need to be removed. If disease and or insects are present, use specific products that control the specific pest or disease in your garden. Broad spectrum insecticides may cause more harm by killing beneficial insects.
There are some perennials that sow their seeds too abundantly and fall deadheading will significantly reduce unwanted sprouts. Another reason to trim perennials in the fall is that they can look a bit worn out. Trimming makes for a much better display. Some examples of plants that respond well to deadheading are, phlox, butterfly bush and some fountain grasses.
Autumn in the South means heavy rains and perennials are frequently lost because of the combination of abundant rain and our poor heavy clay soil. Circumstances like these, create poor drainage and lost plants. In fact research has demonstrated that 80% of lost plants are due to inadequate soil. To save and nurture your perennials it is worth your time, energy, and money to incorporate the proper amounts of organic material and additional amendments in order to increase the availability of air and water that the plants need in order to thrive.
Creating and maintaining good soil are the significant ingredients needed for you to achieve your garden design, colors, and the variety of plants that you dreamed of as you planned your garden. These two elements are vital in order to protect the roots from drying. 
Today my friend and fellow gardener, Susan Boehm, will share with you how to achieve great fall color and prepare for the colder temperatures ahead...
The first time I heard "putting my garden to bed" I had no idea what they were talking about. However, after years of gardening I came to understand. The coolness of fall, after the summer heat, is the perfect time to ready the garden for winter. Also fall is the best times to plant perennials. Planting in October will allow the plants to develop roots and store energy before the winter. And a major payoff is that the garden will be in good shape next spring.
The first priority is to consider which perennials should be cut back, even if some of the flowers are still blooming. By cutting them back in late summer and early fall the plants have time to grow new leaves and thereby store extra energy before cold weather. A moderate trim is better than letting them bloom profusely till they have nothing left. Good candidates include zebra hollyhocks (Malva zebrine) and Blanket flower (gaillardia). I also like to trim annuals in early fall so that they will produce wonderful color for fall.
Fall is also the time to divide plants. A few examples of plants to divide in the fall include, Irises, asters, chrysanthemums, Daisies, Irises, Hostas, Phlox, ferns, Black-eyed Susan and Echinacea (cone flower). These flowers truly benefit from division every three to 4 years. Extras can be shared with friends and dividing will also help to maintain their vigor.
An excellent way to prevent disease and pests in the perennial garden next spring is to clean up garden beds in the fall. Debris and infected plants can harbor insects and diseases and need to be removed. If disease and or insects are present, use specific products that control the specific pest or disease in your garden. Broad spectrum insecticides may cause more harm by killing beneficial insects.
There are some perennials that sow their seeds too abundantly and fall deadheading will significantly reduce unwanted sprouts. Another reason to trim perennials in the fall is that they can look a bit worn out. Trimming makes for a much better display. Some examples of plants that respond well to deadheading are, phlox, butterfly bush and some fountain grasses.
Autumn in the South means heavy rains and perennials are frequently lost because of the combination of abundant rain and our poor heavy clay soil. Circumstances like these, create poor drainage and lost plants. In fact research has demonstrated that 80% of lost plants are due to inadequate soil. To save and nurture your perennials it is worth your time, energy, and money to incorporate the proper amounts of organic material and additional amendments in order to increase the availability of air and water that the plants need in order to thrive.
Creating and maintaining good soil are the significant ingredients needed for you to achieve your garden design, colors, and the variety of plants that you dreamed of as you planned your garden. These two elements are vital in order to protect the roots from drying.