Fall Outdoor Cleanup Time!

   This will be an unusual garden cleanup up year for many of us. With flooding rains is so many parts of the country & unusually warm temperatures east coast, this is the year fall can turn in winter cleanup.

    Here on the east coast the leaves have been taking their time changing color and falling. Yes, some have fallen without changing but I still have hope! This becomes problematic if we have any early snow (seems unlikely... but you never know) the branches on all trees with leaves become vulnerable. What we need this year is to be diligent and keep up even though leaf removal may last well into late December. (used to be Thanksgiving!) I can't complain though, my annual begonias are still blooming (unheard of in November here) thanks to no frost or freeze. I got my money's worth out of then this year for sure. Here are some cleanup tips:

  ~ Instead of bagging all your leaves or using the curbside pickup, think about using as many as possible as mulch in your beds & mowed into your lawn . This benefits your soil & the wildlife that needs warm hiding places. The only type I have found that doesn’t work for me are ginkgo leaves. I have a 100+ year old HUGE tree so beautiful but the leaves are too heavy & rubbery & never seem to break down. No wonder this tree was around in prehistoric times! See the nice link below for best mulch ideas.

http://www.smilinggardener.com/organic-gardening-tips/mulch-types-how-to-choose-the-best-mulch

~ Leave seed headed perennials alone in your garden to feed the birds this winter. (Goldfinches do not migrate so the coneflower seeds are a treat for them.) The exceptions being any that showed signs of powdery mildew or other diseases at the end of summer. Dispose of these in the trash, not even with the garden waste.

~ Go shopping for Spring bulbs & consider buying a few to force indoors. My favorite to force are hyacinths. These require a few months of refrigerator time & then a bulb vase. This allows the bulb to sit with just a hint of water at the base. Soon roots will form & then the green leaves will peak through. Start to bloom is usually three weeks. Something about that wonderful smell come February… Check out the link below for outdoor planting.

http://www.americanmeadows.com/planting-flower-bulbs

And indoor planting…

http://www.gardeners.com/Growing-Bulbs-Indoors/5158,default,pg.html

~ Most of all get out and enjoy the crisp air & the eventual beautiful colors. There is nothing like it!