Homegrown: Preparing your garden for fall

Linn County Extension Master Gardener Intern, Jane Schildroth, sent the following timely tips:

At this time of year, many gardeners begin to wonder when to divide and prune plants and which areas of the garden need fall attention.  The information at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/RG319.pdfmight be particularly useful. 

We all may need reminders on how to handle a few of the “old stand-by” plants.  The clematis is one of these. (By the way, the pronunciation is klem' ah tis.)  The key with clematis is to “wait until spring”.  Then you'll want to prune out the dead wood when the new growth begins.  Cut back your vines to the point where the new growth emerges. 

Your peonies may also look like they need some love right now, but it's best to wait until after a hard freeze this fall to remove foliage.  That foliage with the big brown spots may be peony leaf blotch.  Even though it isn't attractive, it is making food for the plant and this food will help the flowers next May.  You will need to cut the stems at ground level and destroy the diseased plant material before winter.

While there are several suggestions to consider for your roses and different tips for different types of roses, one primary hint is to stop deadheading them in the late summer (now).  This will help them harden for the winter.  You should no longer (after the end of July) be fertilizing your roses, again to ready them for the winter.

One of the basics of your garden is the soil and of course, it requires some attention, too.  This fall is the best time to do the spading you need to do.  By working the soil in the fall, you will help control some insects and the diseases that can overwinter if left on the dead foliage.  Also, as the ground freezes and then thaws in the spring, it will be healthier and will also dry out more quickly for planting.  “Why spade the garden?” you ask.  Typically you might just leave it alone but if you've decided that your plants aren't performing as it used to, or if you just want to try something new and bold, then right now is the very best time to rejuvenate your perennial bed.  It's a huge job, but you will find great satisfaction next spring when your plants begin to enjoy their new homes – and neighbors.