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 Part I:
The Garden
 There
are many quick growing vegetables that enjoy the milder fall
temperatures. There are also some longer growing vegetables that don't
mind a little frost and may be planted early fall for a harvest in
November/December. Some of those that can help keep your green
thumb busy are:
Arugula -
Beets -
Broccoli -
Cabbage -
Carrots -
Cauliflower -
Leeks -
Mustard -
Radish -
Scallions -
Spinach -
Turnips -
Winter Squash
(click on each for more information)
As you enjoy your fall vegetable garden, keep some of these tasks in
mind to prep the soil for your spring planting.
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Remove dead plants. If you keep them
there they may become a hiding place for pests. Instead,
collect healthy remains and place them in a compost bin or discard
completely. Also remove old stakes and twine, this will just
get messy over the winter and become more of a headache to clear out
come spring.
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You may till some dead leaves and compost into
the soil to add nutrients over the winter. However, be careful
not to have too much as you do not want to mat the surface.
Tilling your soil in the fall can also expose any pest larvae to
freeze in the winter. Finally, take a soil sample; fall is a
great time to add lime or sulfur to adjust the soil pH for spring.
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If you have a mild enough winter, you may want
to consider cover crops such as clover and rye grass (ask your local
garden store for localized suggestions).
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Do not fertilize as this will wash away before
your spring planting - save your money!
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Use time in the fall and winter to sketch out
next years garden. Doing this early will help you decide if
you should make any adjustments or amend soil in certain areas now.
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Fall
Gardening Links
Better Homes & Gardens
Fall Garden Guide - Add beauty to your yard all autumn long, and get
your garden ready for winter.
Compost Guide
Compost is one of nature's best mulches and soil amendments, and you
can use it instead of commercial fertilizers. Best of all, compost
is cheap. You can make it without spending a cent. Using compost
improves soil structure, texture, and aeration and increases the
soil's water-holding capacity.
Home & Garden TV
Fall-Gardening Basics - Fall is the perfect time to plant shrubs,
trees and bulbs, tend fall veggies and improve your lawn. We
show you how, plus cover a lot of the basics.
How Stuff Works
Vegetable Garden Mulches - Mulches are either organic or
inorganic material placed on the soil around vegetable plants.
Mulches perform a number of useful functions. They protect against
soil erosion by breaking the force of heavy rains; they help prevent
soil compaction; they discourage the growth of weeds; and they
reduce certain disease problems. Mulches are insulators, making it
possible to keep the soil warmer during cool weather and cooler
during warm weather.
Vegetable Library - Vegetables are healthy, delicious and fun to
grow. Learn everything you need to know about vegetables and
vegetable gardens.
The US National Arboretum
Zone map and information.
Fall
Landscaping Links
Better Homes & Gardens
Fall Garden Guide - Add beauty to your yard all autumn long, and get
your garden ready for winter.
Home & Garden TV
Fall-Gardening Basics - Fall is the perfect time to plant shrubs, trees
and bulbs, tend fall veggies and improve your lawn. We show you
how, plus cover a lot of the basics.
Lowe's How To
Landscaping with Mulch - Neatly mulched beds improve the appearance
of any landscape. But beyond its appearance, a layer of mulch
provides many other benefits. Mulch protects the plants' root
systems and can add much-needed nutrients to the soil. Mulch slows
the erosion of topsoil. Though applying mulch may seem like a chore,
it can actually save you effort later in the season.
The US National Arboretum
Zone map and information.
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 Part II:
The Landscape
Looking for a little color around your
house in fall? Try some of these plants to add color to your home
with their vibrant fall colors and blooms:
American Cranberry Bush -
Chrysanthemum -
Burning Bush -
Iris
(re-blooming) -
Kale -
Pansies
(click on each for more information)
Or perhaps you are considering your
spring flowerbeds. These plants can be planted in the fall to make
sure they are established for a spring awakening:
Allium
- Crocus
-
Daffodil -
Hyacinth -
Iris
- Tulip
(click on each for more information)
Fall is also a great time to introduce
new plants to your landscape. Many of your large plants such as
trees and shrubs do best when planted in the spring or fall.
Planting in the fall allows them milder temperatures to get established
before the winter. Now is also a good time to relocate plants that
may not be happy in their current location. Also, perennials such
as Daylilies, Geraniums, Irises, Lambs Ears, and Peonies may be divided
and spread in your landscape for a new bloom next year.
Now is the time to clean up your
landscape and prep your plants for the winter ahead.
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Water all your
plants - it may be wet, but they will appreciate a good drink before
the ground freezes.
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Cut away - cut
back perennials and add to the compost bin. If you have any
question about the health of the plant, discard the cuts instead.
Also cut back any evergreens and shrubs; at this point you are mainly
cutting out dead or diseased stems on the plant.
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Clear debris such
as leaves and pine needles from the base of your plants.
Crushed dried leaves can be used to make mulch or compost.
Some gardeners may also use pine needles for mulch, however, pine needles can
make a more acidic soil.
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Dig up the
annuals - they have had their moment of glory, add them to your
compost bin.
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Lawn care -
continue to mow your lawn until it stops growing. Make sure to
rake leaves to prevent molding and dead spots. You will also
want to fertilize the lawn once in the early fall and again after it
stops growing.
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a
flower. ~
Albert Camus
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