Fall Gardening and Prep for a Successful Spring and Summer Season
Aaahhh, autumn in Virginia.
Before you pull your mittens over those green thumbs, there are a few things you can do to get ahead of the game and be in top shape for the arrival of spring.
First of all, the growing season doesn’t have to come to a screeching halt. In fact, I LOVE winter vegetable gardening. So many cool weather crops grow well here in our region, and with fewer weeds and less humidity, it makes for a more pleasant gardening experience.
Now is a great time to get your fall/winter brassicas established. To give your cool season garden a head start, you can often find already-established plants at local garden centers and skip the process of starting from seed. Broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, and others grow very well in the fall, and even in frost and snow!
In fact, they sweeten with the colder temperatures. Other options like carrots, parsnips, and even tender greens can grow through the fall and winter, especially with the help of a hoop house or cold frame. In fact, sweet and snow peas will grow through the fall as long as you protect them from frost. Many of these veggies are quick to mature, so plant in succession as long as the weather allows.
There are lots of simple, cheap options for plant protection on bitterly cold days. A quick Google search on DIY hoop houses, cold frames and mini green houses will turn up plenty of results, and you may have the necessary tools and materials just lying in your garden shed!
As for your non-edible landscape, a little attention now will serve you well when warm weather returns. September is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. Gentle pruning is also recommended this time of year. Take some time to remove the dead and brittle branches, and shape up your canopies and bushes. For the rose gardeners, now is a good time to give your roses their last feeding of fertilizer and allow them to harden off. You can, of course, continue deadheading and think about collecting those rose hips (if your shrubs produce them) for later use in herbal teas, hand-made soaps, and other fun crafts.
A favorite fall gardening activity for many people is, of course, planting bulbs. There are so many options for fall planting that will provide bright bursts of color in the earliest days of spring. A few regional favorites include daffodils, tulips, alliums, lilies, hyacinth, and crocus. Bulbs are great fun for those who enjoy landscape design. Consider using different colors and flower heights to create interesting patterns. It will be exciting to see your hard work popping up after along winter.
These are just a few things you can do to clean up your landscape and dive into the fall gardening season. It’s also a good time to pull any unwanted weed invaders, separate crowded perennials, and give your lawn a little love by testing and adjusting your pH levels (between 6.2 and 6.5 is desirable), dethatching, and aerating.
We wish you happy gardening and a lovely fall season!
