Tomorrow marks the Autumnal Equinox and you know what that means—- summer is “officially” over. The days are getting shorter, darker, cooler, and more rain is on its way. I am appreciating these last sunny days. We had a torrential downpour on Sunday and it was a sight to see and hear- I know my plants appreciated the deep watering they finally received. They have been such troopers during this dry summer season.
The great news is: Fall is a wonderful time for garden projects!
Divide your peonies, astilbe, and other clumping perennials if they are encroaching your precious garden space. I have a few Itoh peonies that are massive and I not only want to divide them— but move them to an even sunnier spot.
Plant trees and shrubs now, they will have a month or two to set and establish new roots before the winter cold arrives and most plants go dormant.
I also like to give my houseplants some extra care. I wipe down their leaves (which can get covered in dust over time) and a shot of fertilizer for a boost of nutrition. These houseplants are in pots! They need to be fed! The soil they are planted in is now definitely depleted of nutrients. It is in your best interest (and the plants) to give them some food on a regular basis.
Mulch/compost are another amazing addition to any garden or container. Organic material is the #1 best thing you can add to your garden soil. Not only to feed the plants but improve the soil texture overall. If you’re living in the Pacific Northwest, you may have heard glacier till- there’s big rocks, sand, clay - it can present you with many problems. It can feel quite limiting at times when observing all the shallow rooted shrubs and trees I’ve planted, struggling to grow deeper roots. Native plants have adapted and simply do a lot better in these areas. I live on top of a hill, surrounded by Doug firs, western red cedars, hemlocks, big leaf maples and alders. Anything I plant has to compete with these mature tree roots. For example, western red cedars have very fibrous, shallow (8’) roots that leap at any chance to form a dense network underground. I have created several beds and digging into the ground is no easy task. It is even more important to follow the common rule of thumb: dig the hole for a new plant twice and deep and twice as wide. I go a little bit deeper and wider, only mix in compost with the native soil, scratch up the rootball of the plant, then nicely tuck the plant in its new home, making sure there aren’t any giant air pockets, top dress with more compost, water in well and deeply. Always remember—- for plant success, start with the SOIL. OM is the “secret” - add compost ANY time of year. There is no wrong time to improve your soil. It’s best to get started right away.
Let’s all take advantage of the fair weather when we have the opportunity!
Happy Gardening
Alison
