It’s clean up time!

Fall started last week and this week brings us into October, which means it is time to clean up our yards and gardens before the snow flies.  I know, I know, how dare I say the “S” word.  In Minnesota the snow can sneak up on us, so it is best to take care of your yard maintenance early. 

Lawns.  Cooler air temperatures and warm soil temperatures make it a good time to over-seed your lawn.  The existing lawn will protect the seed during the germination process.  Once it gets closer to the end of October applying a fertilizer to your lawn will encourage new root growth and thicken your lawn for the next year.

Perennials.  There are several good reasons to divide your perennials.  Flower buds can get smaller over time, if you plants get overgrown.  The quantity of flower buds your plant produces can also decrease over time, if your plants need dividing.  Common perennials that like to be divided in the fall include, bee balm, daylilies, hosta, geranium, garden phlox, yarrow, and coneflowers.  It is best to wait at least three years after planting a typical perennial before you divide it.  Dig up the plant and with a shovel or sharp tool thin out the plant into smalled clumps.  Before you move the plant to a new home, cut back the foliage by half and then replant.  If it is a new flower bed, be sure to amend the soil with peat, hummus or manure.  This will give your plants nutrients.  Watering is important when you transplant or divide perennials.  Just because the temperature is cooler doesn’t mean your plants don’t need water.  Keep a regular water scheduling even if we get a frost, the soil temperature is still warm.

Seed Collecting.  Many gardeners take time in the fall to round up the seeds of plants they want to savor next year.  Seed collecting is pretty easy but it can be tedious.  It is best to collect once the seed head/pods are dry.  Cut off the desired amount and then let the seed head/pod dry in a cool sunny space for a week or two, store in a paper bag.  Once the seed pods have been dried it is time to sift through what you have and actually pull out the seed – this varies per plant.  Cut open seed pods and remove the seeds, or pull apart the flower bud to shake loose any seeds.  Shaking the material through a sieve separates the junk from the seeds.  You can do this with annual seeds, coneflowers, grasses, sunflowers and much more. 

Shrubs.  Generally speaking I don’t do much with my shrubs this time of year.  I have a few roses that bolted this summer during the heat, so I will cut off the canes down to match the rest of the shrub.  I do most of my shrub trimming in the spring or after the shrub has flowered.  It is not a good idea to trim your lilacs or magnolias right now, they have already set their buds for next year.  It is alright to trim shrubs if they are lanking or sporadic but you can also do it in the spring to assess any winter damage or die-back.