by Joe Daniels, Delaware County Maser Gardener
Tidying up the garden continues as fall leaves hit the ground and late season flowers fade. As the weather becomes increasingly cold, it's time to protect the most delicate plants. Remain on the alert for frosts, although with luck you may find yourself enjoying a warm and sunny Indian summer.
Begin to dig and store tender bulbs (such as tuberous begonias, dahlias, caladiums, and gladioli) when their foliage turns yellow and withers.
Pull annuals after frost and toss them in the compost pile, or leave them if they have interesting seed heads.
Cut back dead stems and leaves or let them remain until spring for winter interest. Remove and destroy any diseased foliage.
Rake leaves for the compost pile or till them into new beds. Chop leaves with the lawn mower for good winter mulch (but don't mulch yet).
Plant spring bulbs. Record where you planted them on your site map so you won't dig into them when you plant annuals in the spring.
Water perennial beds (as well as new shrub and bulb plantings) thoroughly before they go dormant to help them survive through the winter.
Move your houseplants indoors (hopefully you already have) and check for any critters. You can leave out Christmas cactus, some orchids and camellias, because they enjoy the cooler weather, but get them inside before a frost.
It's a good time to plant and transplant evergreens — the sooner the better. It may be better to wait for deciduous plants to drop their leaves first before planting.
Remove vegetable plants as they finish cropping and begin digging and adding organic matter to the soil.
Remove submersible pumps from ponds; clean and store them for the winter.
Don't forget to set out bird feeders to help keep birds well-fed through the winter. Keep the feeder clean and stocked throughout the winter.
Check for seasonal price discounts on gardening tools and equipment. Keep some and save some for holiday gifts.
Continue fall planting, especially of pansies.
Divide plants that have open centers. Spring flowering plants are divided in the fall, as well as summer flowering plants. Do not divide fall flowering plants until next spring. Examples of plants to divide now: bugle weed, bleeding hearts, daylilies, hostas, peonies, phlox, and yarrow.
If dividing peonies, include at least three buds in each division and set plants one inch or less below the soil. Expect it to take three years before each division will rebloom.
Be on the look out for boxelder bugs and multi-colored Asian lady beetles, as they may begin to invade homes as the weather cools.
Keep an eye on wasps and hornets, as they will continue to be a problem while they abandon their nests for the year.
Do you have a gardening question? In Delaware County, call our Master Gardeners hortline at 610-690-2671 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM-12 NOON.
UPCOMING MASTER GARDENERS EVENTS
November 10, 2007: Thanksgiving & Fall Flower Arrangement
We'll present great ideas for fall flower arrangements. Learn techniques to make your own one of a kind creation, whether in a pumpkin, bowl or basket. This is a hands-on workshop. Bring hand clippers or scissors. We supply the rest.
Registration required for all events. Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website
