As Winter is quickly approaching there is still time to prep your garden in the Fall for a beautiful Spring. Knowing that you have done everything you can to give yourself an advantage will boost your spirits heading into winter. Read on to gain insight into your Fall garden guide.

For your lawn:

• Take care of the leaves. If there is a thick layer rake them, if it is just a casual sprinkle they are fine.

• Seed or lay sod. Cool temperatures combined with late fall rain make for ideal conditions for establishing new lawns or repairs in most regions.
• Aerate your lawn. Plan to aerate high-traffic areas annually to loosen compacted soil; otherwise, every 2-3 years will do
• Keep up with weeds. Many common lawn weeds will start proliferating as the temperatures cool off in fall.
• Raise your mower blade. Keeping your lawn taller will encourage more root growth, which helps your grass survive the winter better.

What to do in your perennial beds:

• Remove weeds. Clear away as many as possible now so you have fewer to deal with next spring.
• Add mulch. After the ground freezes, add a 4- to 5-inch-thick layer of bark mulch over the crown of perennials planted this growing year and those that are frost-tender in your area.
• Plant spring-blooming bulbs. Tulips, daffodils, and many other spring-blooming bulbs are best planted in late Fall.
• Water once a week if dry. Even though perennials are going dormant in fall, their roots are still actively growing until the ground freezes. Well-hydrated plants withstand winter stresses better.

What about the vegetable patch:

• Clean out beds. Removing all plant debris helps prevent pests and diseases from overwintering in your garden and returning even worse in spring.
• Put away stakes, labels, and other accessories. As you remove plants, don’t forget to gather items such as labels, stakes, and cages. Store them where they’ll be handy to reuse next year.
• Add compost. Spread a 2- to 3-inch-thick layer of compost over your beds to enrich the soil. No need to till it in; precipitation and soil organisms will do the job for you.
• Plant cover crops. Sow cover crops like mustard, peas, or clover in the fall to prevent erosion. Then turn them over into the soil in spring to add nutrients.

This will all be helpful and give you a leg up for next year. While also keeping you busy outside in these months when it is still important to stay active and get as much fresh air and sunlight as we can!

Connect with local professionals who care. Reach out to Trinity Health Systems Twin City today to learn more about services designed to keep you and your family healthy! Phone: (740) 922-2800