Saying Goodbye to the Garden

We have entered into my favorite season here in Minnesota. The changing leaves, pumpkins and cooler days beckon us to enjoy the days ahead before winter sets in.

As a gardener, fall is an important time of year to take time to review the successes and disappointment in the garden.

Healthy Soil

Enrich garden beds with compost or manure. Spread an even layer on any exposed soil.

Winter's freezing and thawing, with some extra help from the earthworms, will work it into the soil for you.

Keep Watering

Keep trees, evergreens and shrubs watered until the ground freezes which is generally until the end of November. They may look dormant, but they're still alive.

Take Care of your Gardening Tools

Clean, sand and oil garden tools before storing them for the winter.

Plant Perennials and Shrubs until mid-October

There is still plenty of time to plant new perennials and shrubs in your landscape. Fall is the best time to take stock of your garden landscape. Cooler temperatures and warm soil are the perfect time to set roots before winter. Did you know? New plants require less water in the fall.

Marisa's Garden can design and install perennial and shrub additions that complement your existing landscape. Just need gardening coaching? We can help too! Contact us today to set up a complimentary 30 minute consult.

Spring Bulbs

Spring blooming bulbs are a welcome sight in the spring. Plant bulbs by digging the hole two times the specific bulb blooming height. Make sure to add bone meal. It helps promote fall root growth.

People often ask us when is the best time to plant spring blooming bulbs.

The general rule is that spring blooming bulbs are planted in the fall, but does that mean anytime in the fall is okay to start planting? Bulbs need several weeks in the ground to get their root systems growing before the ground freezes. However, you don’t want to plant them so early in the season that they do not have time to sprout. It is wise to wait until we have more consistently cooler days.

Garden Tip:

One of the most fail-safe ways of protecting your bulbs from ravenous squirrels is to protect them with chicken wire. Simply cut a section of it the size of your planting area, and lay it over the top of the soil once you're done with the planting.

Secure it, either with stakes or large rocks, to keep it where you install it. Cover it with mulch or leaves to hide the wire.