With fall weeks away, there is time to let your flowers bloom a little longer before winter-proofing your garden.
According to Debbie Lux, horticulturalist at Medford Leas Barton Arboretum and former president of the Pinelands Garden Club, deadheading perennials will increase the life of the flower.
“This time of the year, the birds will eat the seeds. The spent flower is something you will remove and make the plant stop making the seeds you can keep it going,” Lux said. “If you deadhead it, it’s almost birth control in a sense. You’re making the flower produce more.”
Deadheading annuals, like marigolds, make the flowers “nice and lush until a frost,” which may not happen until November, according to Lux. Keeping the flowers alive until the first frost is positive for the environment. With fall come the monarch butterflies, which will utilize the plants for food.
“By removing the spent flowers, they’ll blossom a lot longer,” Lux said.
According to Lux, fall is the perfect time to divide perennials and transplant shrubs. She suggests avoiding grasses because those do better to divide and transplant in the spring.
“In general, fall is for planting. And newly planted trees, you should continue watering for a good year,” Lux said.
Take care of garden, avoid flooding
It’s no secret the Garden State has been drowning this summer in excessive rainfall. Removing large amounts of mulch will allow the water to drain better, according to Lux.
“I think where people may be seeing an issue, where it’s wet now, could be an issue later on in the winter when it’s icy and it rains on top of that,” Lux said. “The water doesn’t have anywhere to go. If you’re getting water in your basement now, think of it when it’s icy.”
Lux recommends taking care of it now before there are too many issues and the ground starts to freeze. Gardeners have the ability to create their own mulch, Lux said.
“A lot of times, I like to use a mulch mower, especially if you have a bag [in your mower], you can mulch your lawn,” said Lux, who uses a lawnmower to cut down her perennials and mulch them right back into the bed. “It’s easier cleanup instead of putting it all out on the curb.”
Layering the mulch moderately, no more than two or three inches thick, will be enough, Lux said.
“If you put too much leaf of mulch in general, you have too many voles snacking on the plant material under the plants. It will harbor the pine vole,” Lux said.
Avoid sick plants
According to Lux, fungi affecting rose bushes can be spread to others through trimming.
“We’re having a big issue. There’s a disease that’s plaguing the rose bushes. The spring is the best time to keep the roses,” Lux said.
“The people who have roses know what to do. Most people don’t do roses unless it’s a knockout rose.”
Herbs
Lavender, thyme and rosemary are all hearty plans that come back annually, Lux said.
“Cutting those specific plants is always a great idea,” Lux said. “They tend to get ‘woody.’”
With other herbs, the plants are not as viable as they reach the end of their life.
“Consider cutting them and rooting them to plant again,” Lux said.
“Cut back lavender or thyme in spring and summer. Save them so they have a replacement just in case the plant needs to be re-rooted.”
Other plants
According to Lux, winter pansies are an option for blossoms.
“They’ll bloom through the winter and into the spring when people are going to plant their annuals again,” Lux said.
Vegetable gardeners can plant garlic and kale in the fall, which will remain through the colder months.
The Pinelands Garden Club meets the second Monday of the month at Medford Leas.
“Anybody is welcome to meetings, and it’s not always about gardens but about nature in general,” Lux said.
