Bedtime Rituals In the Garden: Now I lay my Plants Down to Sleep

Tender bulbs and tubers, like gladioli or dahlias, need special attention. Before the first hard frost, cut back all remaining gladioli foliage, then carefully dig up and remove soil from the corms. Let them air dry before storing them in a mesh bag hung in a dark dry place. Dahlias prefer to stay in the ground until a hard frost, and then can be treated in much the same way.

Above all, do not fertilize. It's hard to resist this temptation, I know. Your garden will seem to beg for it, much like a child pleading for one last snack before turning in. Do not give in. Do not let your resistance be worn down. Fertilizing now is like sending a child to bed with a 10-lb. bag of sugar and a spoon - your plants will be so busy feasting they'll never settle down, and come springtime, you'll find them burned out, weary, and possibly worse.

As a final step to tucking your garden in for the winter, give them a nice snuggly two-inch blanket of mulch. Now I know, some gardeners swear that mulching for the winter just provides a warm environment for disease and decay to set in. But if you've been diligent about good fall hygiene and braced your garden for the long nights to come, you've nothing to fear. Your plants' tender roots need a cozy place to slumber and by using organic mulch you'll get them off to an even better start next spring.

Once you've finished putting your garden to bed, it's time for you, the Gardener, to get some rest, too. Grab the remote control or a good book and enjoy your well-earned respite. After all, it won't be long before your mailbox overflows with next spring's seed catalogues and your thoughts will turn to revamping that foundation planting to put all of your neighbors to shame.

For more fall cleanup tips and techniques, check out the following:

• Fall Pond Cleanup advice from Dig Magazine.
• Winter Prep up North, Winterizing Roses, and Provide Winter Protection by the National Garden Association.
• Fall Cleanup: Death and Rebirth in the Garden by Suite 101's Gardening Section's Managing Editor, Carol Wallace.
• Or check out the Ever-Growing List of Garden Checklists for more resources.

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