Fall and Winter Gardening Tips for the Front Range
What to do now and what can wait until Spring?
There is much to do in our gardens in fall. Transplanting, planting, cleaning out old beds, preparing spring beds, pruning and providing protection against the coming cold months. Opinions differ on how much should be done in the Fall vs. the Spring but here are a few tips to navigate caring for your garden.
Fall Planting~ Autumn is a perfect time for planting. The soil is still warm and if you plant perennials in autumn the roots will grow until the soil temperature reaches approximately 40F. This gives the plants a head start on the next growing season. It’s recommended you apply a mild granular fertilizer or compost to both new fall plantings and existing plants to allow nutrients to sink down into the soil during the months ahead. It’s a bit late for most flowering perennials to be planted but native shrubs such as Rocky Mountain maple, curl-leaf mountain mahogany, rabbit bush, red twig dogwood, chockcherry, golden current and Rocky Mountain thimbleberry can still be planted. These native shrubs will ensure both vivid autumn blossoms and foliage next year.
Planting Bulbs~After the soil temperature drops to 60 F, you can plant bulbs for next spring and summer bloom. Bulbs tend to look best planted in bunches. The typical tulip and daffodil varieties are great but you may want to try some deer resistant bulbs such as Galanthus, Siberian Squill, Chlonodoxa Dwarf Iris and Fritillaria.
Mulching, Watering and Planting Seeds~ New perennials and bulbs should be mulched with a thin layer or organic material after planting. Fall is the season to slack off on the watering, but not completely, according to Nan Spence with YourHub. Turf grass, shrubs, trees and young plants need to receive water throughout the winter. Lack of winter moisture can damage or kill bushes, perennials or trees. If our weather pattern does not produce snow for over a month you should water your plants early in the day when it the temperature is above freezing. Wildflower and ornamental perennial seeds can be gathered when ready and planted now or in the next few months.
Weeding and Fall Clean up~ Clean up of dead annuals, perennials and leaves from trees can be done in fall or spring. The benefits of fall cleanup are improving the appearance of your garden through the winter, reducing spreading of weeds and getting a head start on your gardening. Fall cleanup eliminates mold and fungus that grow when dead foliage is left over the winter. However, there are a few reasons to let ornamental grasses and plants with sturdy stems to remain. These grasses provide beautiful winters capes and dimension to your garden and more importantly these plants can provide food and protection for migrating birds. If they are cut back before spring they can also be damaged by frost and hard freezes. The old growth you leave on the grasses through the winter provides a great shelter for succulent new growth in early spring.
Bringing the Joy of Gardening Inside~Many potted plants can be brought inside for the winter including geraniums, succulents, and any tropical plants, hibiscus, hydrangea etc. Other plants that will provide blooming flowers throughout the winter include African Violets, Begonias and Jasmine.
