Perennial and Garden Beds
- Clear out all diseased plants, Leaves and produce. Diseases and pests can overwinter in old plant material and come back in the Spring. Be sure to bag this material and throw it away. Do not put in your compost.
- Leave your perennials until early spring to trim. The crown of the plant provides insultation for the plant and the old flower stems provide a habitat for overwintering beneficial insects and wildlife. Any dead leaves and stems around the perennials may be removed in fall cleanup.
- Apply mulch to any bare beds. Even fall leaves will help prevent weeds, hold in moisture and provide a steadier soil temperature.
Shrubs & Trees
- Apply tree wrap (especially for new thin barked trees like Honey locust, Green Ash, Redbud, Fruit trees, & soft Maples)
- Prune trees during the winter when they are bare so you can see branch structure. Maples and Birch should be pruned in fall after leaf drop.
- Best tree and shrub trimming time is between early November to early March before new growth begins.
- Do not trim spring blooming shrubs like forsythia, lilac, weigela, ninebark etc. Because their flower buds have already formed. You may trim dead branches.
Annuals
- After a hard frost, remove dead plant material to prepare container gardens for decorating your porch with Fresh Holiday Greens. Create a Porch Pot. Ask The Green Team for details.
- Plant frost hardy pansies in container gardens for fall color. They can take the cold temperatures.
Bulbs
Plant Spring bulbs
- Tulips, daffodils and crocus need to be planted before the ground freezes. Don’t forget to feed these bulbs with bone meal or a bulb food high in calcium. And water them well to initiate rooting.
General Maintenance
- Clean patio and garden furniture for storage.
- Clean bird baths with a stiff bristle bush.
- Clean bird feeders for winter season.
- Drain your hoses and sprinklers. Water left inside can damage them.
- Clean, sharpen and oil your tools. Wipe off the dirt and sharpen the blades. A light coat of oil will keep them from rusting over winter.
