Fall Tips for New Gardeners

[bleedingheart]

Now is the time to move plants (that aren't blooming)

It is also the time to divide plants...especially hostas, liatris..etc

It is also a good time to get deals on perennials at local nurseries on all sorts of goodies. Patience is a virtue in gardening...you may not see the bloom or the full potential of a plant purchased now...but you might get a great deal (sometimes 75% off sales) ...and you can eagerly await the surprise for next year.

For the lawn...it is time to thatch, and aerate...

Remember to start cleaning up your garden now...composting is great...try to clean up twigs, and diseased plants or those plants that have just died back...compost them...even dig them into the soil...but don't let that stuff accumulate...it can spread disease and will make your spring clean up more work.

[Imalittleteapot]

1. good tips! nt

[sazemisery]

2. Have a plant swap with friends and neighbors

Every fall, my friends and neighbors get together and swap plants. This year I will be offering plenty of echinacea (purple coneflower) 'cause it has taken over the garden. Also people tend to overbuy tropicals and have nowhere to store them for winter (a free houseplant is a free houseplant, no?) And you learn lots of valuable gardening tips.

I live in a rural community and our "neighborhood" has small scale farmers and hobby gardeners so the plants offered are diverse and sometimes rare heirlooms.