Some people believe that when the weather starts getting colder and the leaves start to fall, it is time to put away the gardening tools and wait until next spring to work on their garden again. Wrong. Winter is an important time to maintain your garden’s health and assure yourself a good crop for next year. You may think that might take to long to prepare your garden, but the truth is that it takes less than one day to prepare your garden for the upcoming winter.
When the nighttime temperatures drop to less than forty-five degrees Fahrenheit for more than four days in a row, or frost is forecasted for your area (usually around late October or November) you know its time to begin preparing your garden. You should begin by evaluating your garden design, check which plants grew well in the past season, and which plants did not do well. Fall is a good time to decide which plants will remain in you garden next year, and which ones should go.
It is also a good time to decide which new plants you want to grow. To make your garden more colorful and healthy, be sure only to plant the more hardy plants during the fall so that they can withstand the winter. Some plants that will do fine being planted in fall are: rudbeckia, Aster Novi-belgii, Anemone Japonica, panicle hyandea, endive, escarole, and Brussels sprouts. You can find all of these and more in gardening magazines or your local nursery.
After you have finished this you should begin cleaning up your garden. Begin by pulling out weeds that may have cropped up, and raking fallen leaves. Weeds and rotten leaves can carry insects and diseases that might be harmful to your garden. You should also rid your garden of spent annual plants, and harvest your vegetables and other plants that cannot withstand the winter weather. After fall has come and gone, the leaves will be off your trees and you can see the rotten branches. Trimming off the unwanted branches from your trees isn’t necessary to your gardens health, but may help later on by not dropping branches on your plants and not blocking too much of the sun.
If you have younger trees you should consider wrapping them and supporting them with stakes to help them survive the winter wind and cold. Putting mulch over your garden for the winter can be a helpful way to protect plants from sudden temperature changes and heavy snow. For mulch you can use about five inches of shredded bark, pine needles, or a variety of other materials. You have to be careful not to mulch too early, because some insects may still be alive and able to take shelter in it for the winter.
Once you are finished with your gardening tools you should clean them and make sure they are in a safe place where they won’t rust and you know where they’ll be for next year. Before winter comes you should always set out slug repellent, as slugs are one of the worst bugs to have in your garden. If you have a pool or fountain in your garden, be sure to take out any fish that you have in them and bring them inside. There’s nothing sadder than a fish frozen in a block of ice.
Jasper Sayer
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-prepare-your-garden-for-the-winter-660080.html
#1 by spj on October 24th, 2009
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How do I prepare my Garden Mum for winter time? Can I keep it inside the house in her own container?
I bought a garden Mum about 3 weeks ago and now it looks like winter is right around the corner. The mum still in her own container and I don’t know if I can keep her there, put her in a larger one…or…do I have to trasplant her in soil, outside?!
#2 by John Chalinder MT USA GMT -7 on October 24th, 2009
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Fall Garden Mums Plant Care
Garden mums are offered in a great array of fall colors. These colorful flowers will survive the cool temperatures autumn has in store. With a little luck and proper care they will come up again next year.
Mums will bloom for 6 to 8 weeks depending on which stage of blooming you purchase them in and the weather. The hotter the weather the faster they will bloom and finish.
TO KEEP YOUR MUMS LOOKING THEIR BEST:
1. Water, Water, Water. Keep them well watered. At the store we water them everyday, and sometimes twice a day. They may need a gallon of water or more per day. If you see leaves starting to look droopy it probably needs water.
2. Use the right soil. If you are planting into another container be sure to plant with a good planter mix (not topsoil or black dirt). If planting in the garden, dig a hole twice the size of the container. Mix that soil with good compost. Mushroom compost is my favorite. Put the plant in the hole and fill with the soil/compost mix. Then water thoroughly. Mulching around your plants helps retain moisture, and gives a nice finished look to your landscape.
TO HELP YOUR MUM SURVIVE THE WINTER:
1. Plant your mum in the ground as instructed above. Your mum will most likely not survive if planted in a container.
2. Keep your mums watered until we have a hard freeze – probably some time in early November (but that could be earlier).
3. Protecting your mums with a mulch or protective cover will help. You don’t want to cover with a mulch that will decompose quickly, such as leaves or grass clippings. As these decompose they may cause the plant to rot. I suggest using evergreen boughs to protect your mums and other perennials. Layer the boughs to create a tent around the plants. This will help protect them from the harsh winds, the temperature will not rise to quickly on warm sunny winter days. And the boughs look great!!!
4. When spring has sprung, (late March/early April) remove your mulch covering and cut back the dead branches of your mums. You will soon see green sprouting out of the base of the plant.
5. When your plants reach about 3"-4" high you can pinch back your plants to produce fuller plants. Most mums you buy now do not need as much pinching. They have been breed to self branch. If you pinch your mums they will bloom later. Be sure your mums get 6 hours or more of direct sun a day. If they don’t they may be thin and spindly. And with little light they may not produce buds. Whether you use your mums as an annual or perennial they’re a great way to bring color to your garden, or decorate for the season.
Enjoy!!!!!!
References :
http://www.randomacres.com/Documents/Fall%20Garden%20Mums.doc
#3 by judy_derr38565 on October 24th, 2009
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Keep them watered until first frost, then cut back to three to four inches tall and cover them with mulch for the winter, in the spring after the danger of frost uncover them and pinch back in July for fuller blooms…you will have to plant the mum in the ground…
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