It’s hard to believe fall is right around the corner. It’s funny how the change of seasons sneak up on us, right? Although summer is still in its full-scorching form, it’s time to start thinking about transitioning your plants and garden beds in anticipation of cooler days. That’s why the RELS Landscaping and Supply team has collected their top get-ready-for-fall gardening tips to help you dig in and get busy.
Remove Annuals and Plant New Ones
Plants that live for one growing season and then die gotta go. To prep beds for new plants, rake the soil and add fresh mulch. This will help fall plants flourish. Next, research which plants bloom during the fall. Pinks, purples, oranges, and yellows will provide a pop of color and make your fall garden come alive. Pansies, mums, and verbena are great fall flowers for containers and borders.
Inspect Perennials
While deleting and adding plants, trim shrubs and prune perennial plants. If some are too large, divide or replant in other areas. When cutting back growth, prune when the temperatures are chilly. Warm-weather trimming can strain plants, leaving them susceptible to frigid temps, disease, insects, and decay.
Add Mulch
One of RELS’ best summer-to- fall gardening tips is to add mulch to garden and flower beds. Mulching late season can help prevent weeds, lock in critical moisture, and insulate the soil. Mulch prolongs plant growth, allowing your garden to prosper later into the season and also protects it from the cold. Remember, leaves make a great mulch substitute. They add nutrients while breaking down: perfect when your lawn is inundated with fresh fall leaves!
Protect Plants
Now is the time to check plants for diseases and remedy them. Insects, rain, and wind can transmit disease from plant to plant. If you see blotchy leaves, remove them. Consider investing in plant frost covers to protect flowers and shrubs to keep them healthy and protect them from the elements.
Bring the Outdoors Inside
The party’s over for indoor plants that went out to soak up the summer sun. It’s time to transition them inside before cold weather becomes a factor in their survival. Set them in a shady part of the yard to acclimate them to less direct light indoors. Once they’re inside, ensure they receive a lot of light and a little fertilizer to keep them happy and healthy.
Wintertime Veggies
Several varieties of vegetables thrive in fall and winter gardens. Spinach, lettuce, kale, carrots, and radish are perfect choices to keep the bounty flowing to your table. Don’t forget to harvest herbs like rosemary, basil, and sage. Snip them early in the morning, then store them in a dry place.
Some gardeners love the rest autumn provides, yet there’s still a little work to be done before you hang up your gardening gloves for the year. Don’t start your fall landscaping and garden bed project list without checking out RELS for all your supplies. From compost to mulch, decorative stone, topsoil, and hardscapes, RELS has what you need right when you need it. Browse our Silver Spring or Frederick, MD landscaping catalogs, and let’s get started!