Master Gardener: Preparing for next year
Now that the growing season is almost over, and before your interest turns to football, you should do a few things to make next year’s garden better. So before you put away your gardening tools here is a short list of things you should do to ensure your garden gets off to a great start next spring.
Once the growing season is over it would be a good idea to pull everything out. Pests will find decaying plants and diseases will follow. Do not compost tomatoes and peppers. They will draw slugs, bugs and other maladies when your compost is added to your soil. Do a soil test. Kits are relatively inexpensive. They can be found in the big box stores, nurseries, and garden centers. It will help you adjust your soil if needed. Take the time now to add nutrients that have been depleted during the growing season.
Divide and replant perennial plants in the fall
Divide and replant perennial plants in the cool days of the fall weather. This will give them time to establish before the frost. The fewer roots you cut off while dividing the plant, the more resilient and stronger it will be come spring.
Plant bulbs like daffodils, tulips and hyacinths in the fall before the ground freezes so you will experience the beauty of the first colors of spring poking up through the ground.
Pull every weed you see now. The ones you don’t will go to seed, leaving you with hundreds of pesky weeds to handle next year. Weeds also provide a safe harbor for insects and plant diseases over the winter. Make sure all your landscaping beds are clean before you put your garden tools away.
Fall also is an excellent time to plant new trees. They will have time to get their roots established before going dormant, which will give them a head start in the spring. Holes should be dug twice the depth and width of the root ball. Place mulch around them for extra protection from the winter weather. Make sure you water deep for the next week to encourage a well-established root system.
Before winter hits give plants some extra protection
Give extra protection to your plants during the winter. Water deep before the ground freezes then add a thick layer of mulch around the roots to provide some insulation. Wrap your tender perennials with burlap or plastic to create a type of mini greenhouse so the warmer air will give protection from the low temperatures, wind, and snow.
Start cuttings on the plants that are easy to propagate. Take the cuttings and apply rooting hormone to the cut ends then put them in water or soil to get them started. Put them in a sunny place during the winter months. When the weather is warmer place them back outdoors.
Rake the leaves and debris from the base of shrubs so to give them proper air flow and discourage pests and rot from taking up residence. Use the leaves to mulch the tender plants that need extra insulation for the winter.
Keep a journal and take before and after pictures. You may think you can remember, but you won’t so having it in writing and seeing the pictures will help in your future planning.
It is important to clean, sharpen and oil gardening tools so they will be in tip top shape next spring.
Sign up now for Master Gardeners 2023 class
If you want to learn more gardening subjects, why not join the Sandusky/Ottawa County Master Gardeners 2023 class. It is a 10-week course, one day a week. Ohio State experts will provide excellent information. After completion you will become part of the Ohio State knowledgeable group of the master gardener team. Call us 419-334-6340 or email lafountaine.5@osu.edu for more information.
The 2022 Sandusky County Fair is Aug. 22-28.
Susan La Fountaine is the coordinator for the Master Gardeners with the Sandusky and Ottawa County Extension Offices.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Master Gardener: Start prep now for next year's garden
