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ON THE GARDEN PATH by Carolyn Herriot
Most gardeners look forward to this time of year with relief. All the watering, weeding, planting, and gardening chores are complete, and it’s time to think about indoor activities. But not so fast. Before you hit that cozy chair by the fire, a few essential tasks still require your attention.
Putting the garden to bed for the winter begins with the fall cleanup, which should start with sharpening (or changing) the blades, and cleaning and lubricating secateurs and loppers. After cleaning, sterilize pruning implements to avoid spreading disease from plant to plant. This is particularly important for roses and fruit trees, which are prone to a number of diseases that spread easily.
Cut back and tidy mixed borders now. Some herbaceous perennials, such as sedums, can be left for winter interest, and some grasses, such as miscanthus are notable for their seedheads. Leave the berries on cotoneaster and other shrubs as winter feed for the birds.
Prune rose canes that may break from wind damage; remove one-third now if necessary, and remove another third in early spring. Remove foliage infected with powdery mildew and blackspot from roses. Adding mulch under roses is an extra protection against winter, and covers any spores on the soil. To prevent disease, remove dead or diseased branches on woody ornamentals. Rake beds to remove diseased leaves and plant material, such as scab on fruit, or rust on hollyhock leaves.
Fall cleanup will generate a lot of material, so be prepared by organizing your composting area. Empty bins with ready-to-use compost and use it to mulch the garden. Screen some compost and use it to top dress planter boxes or oak half-barrels. If the compost bin is full, turn it to aerate and mix the contents, moistening while turning. By next spring you’ll have a bin full of fabulous “black gold” to start off the gardening year.
Thoroughly collect and compost all spent plant matter, including annuals and vegetables. Tidy up conifers and evergreen hedges with a light, pre-winter trim, but remember to taper the cut in toward the top.
Lift any boards and remove debris and old plant pots. Clean areas where slugs and caterpillar cocoons may overwinter. Have a good clear-out in the greenhouse. Clean algae buildup off glass, using an environmentally friendly cleaner. Scrub shelving and benches, and hose off ledges, nooks, and crannies. Sweep or rake the greenhouse floor.
Adapted from A Year on the Garden Path, A 52-Week Organic Gardening Guide by Carolyn Herriot. $29.95. Earthfuture Publications, Victoria, BC. Available at Banyen Books, Duthie Books, or at www.earthfuture.com/gardenpath
Cleanup tips
· Mist pruning tools with rubbing alcohol before using them on another plant.
· Lubricate pruning equipment by wiping blades with an oily rag, and add a couple of drops between the blades.
· Before composting, chop tall stalks into smaller pieces for faster breakdown.
· Hedge clippings take a while to break down — put them in a plastic bag and solarize before adding to the compost; they will rot faster.
· Running the mower over leaves shreds them into smaller pieces, which speeds up breakdown.
· Do not compost diseased plant matter unless you can hot-compost. Bury diseased material in a hole dug in the garden; there are over 50,000 different species of microorganisms in the soil that will set to work destroying plant pathogens.
· Run a hose over the compost pile while it’s being turned to facilitate speedier breakdown.
· To prevent valuable soil nutrients from leaching during winter rains, cover the compost pile with a tarp or unpainted wood.
From A Year on the Garden Path, A 52-Week Organic Gardening Guide by Carolyn Herriot. $29.95. Earthfuture Publications, Victoria, BC. Available from Banyen Books and Duthie Books or
www.earthfuture.com/gardenpath
Carolyn Herriot has been operating The Garden Path Organic Plant Nursery in Victoria since 1989, from which grew her organic seed business, Seeds of Victoria. Carolyn shares her passion for gardening by way of lectures and as a garden writer, and appears weekly on Get Up and Grow and the Go show on Global and CHTV.
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