Autumn Garden Season

In my gardening region, there are two major times to work in the garden: spring and fall. Not that there are not other chores during the remaining two seasons! It is rather a matter of success rate and effort efficiently expended. Our summers with hot, muggy weather, dry ground, blazing sun, and dessicating winds tax the plants and the planter (or planterer?) And everyone in temperate zones knows about winter and its challenges.

I am in an odd climate region of Ohio, which explains the prairie environment as opposed to the woodland in the majority of our state. But, basically, the same rules apply: planting is best in the two little windows March through mid-May and Mid-September-October. With some effort from the gardener, or a gambling streak, one can chance summer and early winter and I'll explain that briefly. For autumn, there are the chores of planting bulbs, making compost, dividing perennials, and (if you're smart) digging new beds and tilling for next season. Moving plants to a new location should be done before October, I think. Mainly, because without dependable snow cover (which central Ohio never has) the plants should have a chance to put down roots in the ideal October weather. Late August and early September are very dry and limit success. A general rule for new plants and starts is the importance of keeping them moist. You can plant most anything at any time if you are willing to keep the soil moist. This is the difficulty for those of us with too many irons in the fire: we often, despite our good intentions forget that special little plant during a brief dry spell. Guaranteed disappointment, even if it revives.

Late August through September are the days for planting madonna lilies, dividing irises, and moving peonies. Harvesting vegetables keeps you busy, if you planted late crops. The weather is sure death to any weeds you manage to disrupt and disable. Ha! Take that, you scurvy weed!

The late September-October period is excellent for reworking the perennial beds, planting all those beautiful bulbs, and for all shrubs and trees. In the city I might chance planting roses, but everyone is much better holding those off for spring. The great deal of vegetable matter from trees and gardens provides a supply for the compost pile. If nothing else, make a trench in your vegetable garden, fill it, add some fertilizer, cover with soil. You would not believe how good this makes the soil after a time. Chopping the leaves up speeds the decay time, and the fertilizer helps the good bacteria to do its work. Organic in the true sense of the word. If you have flower beds that need to be edged, this is the ideal time for that job, any garden construction work, in fact. The soil is workable and the weather stays clear and pleasant, much better than the muddy spring conditions. Think ahead to make everything ready for the spring planting: using the open window of spring for planting and dividing because the earth is in all readiness from your diligence in the fall.

Autumn Links

More of the Season:
More Autumn tips a href="http://www.planterspalette.com/articles/bulbs/smbutbg.htm">Small Bulbs Bulbs Fact Sheet	Monthly Tips Fall Fruit Tree Care Fall Activities Poetry of Robert Frost

Garden Chores for Fall:
Planting spring-blooming bulbs Mulching for winter protection Preparing ground for spring planting Planting new trees and shrubs	Storing tools, etc. for winter Saving seed in cool,dry,frost-free place Dig and store summer tubers and bulbs Remove pond pump Prepare pond for winter

My Autumn Season links: Tulips and Daffodils and Planting Minor Bulbs.