What to do and what not to do to make your garden friendlier to essential pollinators.
There are still plenty of things you can do to keep your yard looking tidy and well-maintained this fall, but environmentalists are asking homeowners to keep the ecosystem in mind when they tackle fall yard clean-up. Here are the steps you can take to keep your garden a haven for pollinators while giving your Spring garden the best head-start.
Leaf Removal
Overwintering insects and pollinator eggs that are attached to the undersides of leaves can be preserved by allowing leaves to remain where they fall around perennials, trees and shrubs. Moving them from lawns to beds will help enrich the soil while providing shelter to the important overwintering pollinators.
Perennial Grooming
Rather than cutting every perennial back before the first frost sets in, gardeners and landscapers are being more selective and allowing dried seed heads to provide food for migratory birds. Here is a list of perennials and how you should handle them this fall.
Do not cut back these perennials
Ornamental grasses - leave them to blow in the breeze while providing shelter for wildlife and trapping snow to protect roots.
Evergreen perennials like Epimediums, Hellebores, Heucheras, Hardy Geraniums, Dianthus, Moss Phlox, Euphorbias, candytuft, Primulas, Hens & Chicks, Heaths, and Heathers. You can tidy them in the Spring if needed.
Hardy perennials like garden Mums, Anise Hyssop, Red-Hot Poker, and Montauk daisy. Leaving the foliage helps protect the root crowns and prevent late new growth that is susceptible to winter kill.
Perennials you can cut back (remove spent flowers and stems by cutting off near the base of the plant, allowing the crown to remain):
Bee balm and phlox are susceptible to powdery mildew.
Peonies are prone to fungal diseases.
Hostas should be cut back so slugs don’t have a safe place to overwinter. Remove the soggy leaves too. Don't cut to the ground.
Irises should be cut back to the ground so iris borer eggs don’t survive.
Campanula, Cat Mint, Clematis, Columbine, Coreopsis, Delphinium, Daylily, Phlox, Salvia, Shasta Daisy, Sunflower, Veronica, Yarrow
Dealing with Diseased Plants
Plants that have shown signs of disease should be managed in the Fall. Their fallen leaves should be removed and their diseased parts cut off. This prevents infected soil from hurting next year’s growth. Don’t compost these items either. Put them in your garbage can, and be sure to sanitize the tools you used.
Only cut what is diseased. Do not do heavy pruning. That should be saved for late winter next year so your plants don’t put out new growth that will only die off when frozen.
Bulbs
Tender bulbs like Dahlias, Caladium, Callas, Gladiolas, and Tuberous Begonias should be dug up and stored in a cool, dry place. These bulbs grow from an underground storage structure and are not technically bulbs.
If in a pot, cut off all foliage and let the bulbs dry out. Store them out of the sun in a cool, dry spot, such as a garage or crawlspace, where they won't freeze.
If these bulbs are in the ground, they should be dug up before the foliage has died back, usually after the first frost. Dig carefully so you don't injure the bulbs (wounds encourage rotting). Wash the bulbs and put them in a warm, dry place to cure for 1-3 days (gladiolas and Callas will need 2-3 weeks). Put the bulbs in a cardboard box, not an airtight container. Store in a two-inch layer of sand, sawdust, or vermiculite, making sure none of the bulbs touch each other.
Weeds
“One year’s seedling makes seven years of weeding.” Make sure you remove any weeds before they set seed if you can, and dispose of those in the trash – don’t compost them. Fall is the best time to weed because it isn't as harmful to the plants you want to keep (root tearing and exposure). You can also see weeds better because your other plants are retiring for winter. Removing weeds now prevents rapid growth in the Spring from established root systems.
Planting
Fall planting is best because of cooler temperatures, more reliable rainfall, and short, bright days to help plants more easily transition into winter. The extreme heat and harsh sun of summer can't stress a plant trying to get established. Waiting to plant in the Spring means more watering so the plant will stay alive.
Before you plant, amend the soil and put down compost (better, some argue, than spring). This is particularly helpful if your soil is heavy and compacted. Work it into the soil with a garden or broad fork, gently. After planting, apply three inches of mulch around trees, but wait until after the ground freezes. The mulch will help keep soil temperatures even and protect roots from heaving during warmer days. Make sure you don’t “volcano” the mulch. Keep it three inches away from the stems and tree trunks.
Divide and Spread
Perennials like Black-Eyed Susans, Irises, Poet's laurel, Astilbe, ferns, Ajuga, Solomon's Seal and Hosta can be separated and replanted in the Fall so their roots have a chance to establish quickly. Dividing also helps control plant size and rejuvenate the plant's growth. Be sure to water them in well.
Pots and Garden Decor
Be sure to put away your ceramic and terra-cotta pots so they don’t break when water freezes in or on them. If they are planted, keep them as dry and warm as possible. You can either bring them indoors or insulate them with mulch. Applying a watertight sealant may also help.
Lawn
Fall is the best time to de-thatch, core aerate, re-seed, and fertilize your lawn. Organic fertilizer helps keep the microorganisms essential for a healthy lawn alive, so avoid chemicals if at all possible. Chemical fertilizer also poisons the birds and other animals that eat the bugs, worms, and seeds in the ground.
When you remove the leaves from your lawn, you can either place them in your beds until spring or compost them to use as natural fertilizer for your beds next year.
Don't Forget the Wildlife
Brush piles tucked away in the corners of your yard are a wonderful habitat for birds, frogs, and reptiles. Leave them undisturbed until the spring and you will benefit from fewer insects next summer.
Birdfeeders, birdbaths, and birdhouses all help a declining bird population survive the winter months. Keep your feeders topped off and ensure there is water in your birdbaths. Go out and break up the ice that forms on the surface, and place the birdbath somewhere it gets the most sun.
Sources: AP News, Gardenista, Farmer's Almanac, The Spruce, Epic Gardening,
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