By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.com
If a customer has a lawn or gardening question while shopping at Sixteen Acres Garden Center in Springfield, MA, Nalini Benoit is the go-to answer person. Store manager for the Garden Center since 1995, Benoit has a wealth of gardening knowledge to share, and a passion for all things growing that followed her to America from her native England. Fairy Gardens are her specialty; she frequently gives talks on crafting these whimsical miniature landscapes as part of Sixteen Acres annual Garden Workshops.
With the end of the growing season for lawns and gardens fast approaching, Prime asked Benoit for advice on some final outdoor chores. Here’s what she had to say:
Q: Gardens are spent, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore them. What are some must-do fall chores to have your flower – or vegetable – garden space ready come spring
“A popular adage is ‘put your garden to bed.’ Fall is a great time to clean up the flower and vegetable gardens.
“For the flower beds, I would suggest cutting back perennials that have already bloomed and removing any rotted leaves. Weeding and a top dressing of mulch would make it that much easier for you in the spring when you are anxious to get out and start planting. Not only will your garden look better before and after snow cover, but you are guarding against possible disease, and pest infestations in the new season.
“Spent vegetable plants should be removed, making sure that any diseased plants are discarded and not put into the compost heap. Add amendments like manure, bone meal, and compost to your soil. These amendments will break down over the winter and enrich your soil and ready it for new plantings in the spring. Planting a fall cover crop like clover, winter rye or vetch can improve the soil by adding nutrients and organic matter. It also will prevent soil erosion and will help to break up compacted areas of the garden.”
Q: Lawns are also slowing down. What tasks – besides that final mow – are critical now to insure a green-up when the weather warms?
“Fall maintenance is very important for lawn care. Make sure to rake up the leaves before snow arrives. Dethatching and aerating is recommended every two to three years. This helps with disease control and compacted soil resulting in healthy lawn growth.
“The final mow should be shorter than you would normally cut during the season, definitely not higher than three inches in length.
“Lime application yearly at the rate of 40 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. maintains the proper soil PH in New England. The PH level for your soil should read between 6.4 to 7 making it ideal for root growth, germination and nutrient breakdown.
The pH level is key to a beautiful lawn!
“Apply a fall/winter lawn fertilizer to an established lawn to promote a deep root system. This application also works well when seeding or overseeding.
“Fall is the ideal time to overseed, to fill in bare patches and to make the lawn thicker and lush come spring.”
Q: What other types of gardening and landscape chores are important to perform in October to get your yard ready for a beautiful 2020?
“Fall is a great time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. It is good to get them in the ground now so that their roots can get established before winter. Make sure that the new plantings are well watered and the ground is wet when it freezes. Adding mulch around your new plantings will help to protect them during the winter months.
“If you are looking for some spring color, fall is the time to plant Holland bulbs. Tulips, Hyacinths, Daffodils, and Crocuses can be planted in the fall. Get them in before the ground freezes!”.
