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Fall in the Garden
Now is a great time to do some cleanup work in the yard. Weeding and mulching now, will give a cleaner look come spring. You can do some light trimming on most shrubs, just a trim, provided they are not early blooming such as Forsythia, Lilac and early blooming Hydrangea. Perennials can also be cut back if they have started browning. Some perennials, such as Coneflower, provide food for birds through the winter and may be left until spring. Grasses also look quite lovely covered in snow and will give cover to wildlife. The decision to cut back in the fall or spring really is a personal one depending on your wants and needs. I tend to do some cutting back in the fall, leaving some until spring at my house.
Although plants are beginning to slow down and go dormant for the upcoming winter, they will still benefit from consistent waterings and fertilizer. The roots will remain active until the ground freezes so watering late into fall is key in maintaining good moisture through the winter. Evergreens especially can be severely damaged through moisture loss from the needles. Weekly watering during dry spells will help ensure the plants have enough moisture through the winter. Fall feeding is another great way to boost plants for the following year. You should wait until your plants have gone dormant (late October or early November is best) to prevent plant tissue from staying too soft too late into fall. Soft plant tissue is easily damaged during our infamous Michigan temperature fluctuations. The one exception to this is the lawn. Lawns with weeds will benefit from an application of Weed-N-Feed now through early November. If weeds are not an issue, straight Winterizer is a great choice.
Cooling temperatures means we will see in increase in insects looking for a place to be warm for the winter. You may notice Boxelder Bugs, Asian Beetles and other critters congregating on your warm siding or porch. These can be controlled with a perimeter spray such as Ortho Home Defense or with Diatomaceous Earth if you are seeking a natural remedy.
We have recently been getting a lot of phone calls regarding evergreen trees turning yellow or brown. This can be a natural occurrence that will correct itself the following year. All evergreens shed needles along the inside by the trunk. Some years will be heavier than others, especially years of drought. You may have years that you don't even notice it. As long as it is staying to the inside of the tree, it usually is nothing to be concerned about. Just continue to keep the tree watered and be sure to apply an application of fertilizer late fall or early spring. If the yellowing or browning is extending out to the tips, this can indicate a problem and should be looked at. I am always happy to look at samples brought in as it is easier to see what is going on if I can have a portion about 10-12" long with some good and some bad on it. A picture of the overall look of the tree is also helpful. Please call ahead to be sure I will be in when you are planning on coming-especially if you are driving a distance. For more information on yellowing in evergreens, check out the following link from Michigan State University.
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