By Joe Daniels, Delaware County Master Gardener
The cool weather has finally returned and our thoughts go to cleaning up the garden from hopefully another successful season. . .even with the lack of rain this summer. Here are a few items that should be on your "To Do List:"
Water, Water, Water
This is very important for trees and shrubs especially because of the dry summer we have had this year. Evergreens continue to lose moisture during the colder months and trees and shrubs with moister ( but not waterlogged) soils survive better than those in drier soil.
Vegetable Gardens
After you have finished harvesting all those delicious vegetables from your garden be sure to pull up any plants that are diseased (discard but don't compost them). If you know for certain that any of the plant stalks and vines are disease-free and healthy then you can leave them and compost them back into the soil. If you have any mature green tomatoes, wash them off, wrap them in news paper and in a few weeks they should be ready for eating.
Annuals
Many annuals die down after blooming and definitely by the first frost. Pull them up and toss in the compost unless they are diseased. In that case trash them.
Continue weeding
Weeds continue to set seed late into the fall. to avoid a new crop of weed seeds, pull them up now.
Prepare soil for next spring.
Turn the soil and make sure you remember what was planted where so you can rotate crops next spring. Remove all garden debris that is diseased. Till the soil (except in places where you still have root crops) and add fresh compost, aged manure, peat or even leaves and rotting fruit. Rotting crabapples make great organic mulch.
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 8, 2008
Nature Ornaments
Use natural materials to make ornaments for your holiday decorations. This is a hands-on workshop. Bring scissors or pruner and a box to carry home your creations. Cost: $15
The Garden Series at Haverford Township Adult School
A collection of one night classes for both the indoor and outdoor garden. Classes taught by Delaware County Master Gardeners. Take one, two or all five– and save.
For more information, go to Haverford Adult School or call 610-446-8022.
Registration required for all events. Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website for a registration form.
