Ten Fall Garden Chores - Page 2© Barbara M. Martin
Page 2
Oct 6, 2000
Pick one large project and nibble away at it on those occasional warm afternoons when you are just itching to get out there and do something but the soil is either frozen or too muddy to be worked. Haul rocks for edging, transport recycled bricks, and lay out step stones in cold weather. Just remember to wear gloves or you will scrape shreds off your cold knuckles!Let this be the year you decide where chrysanthemums and asters would truly look best in your yard. Mark the spot and make a note to order accordingly next spring so you can plant your garden design. Spring is when mums should be planted for the best results. Take time to make a scale drawing of an area that needs attention. Take notes and photos, too. Now you are all set to plan a design for a focused area in a targeted and constructive way. Perfect on some snowy winter's day when the catalogs beckon with their siren song. Keep a souvenir. Save seeds from the best plants and try your hand at seed starting next spring, either by strewing in place on the last snows of winter or indoors under lights.Empty all your seasonal planting containers and start afresh with clean new soil next spring. Maybe try adding some water holding polymer while you're at it. Your annuals will thank you.Give yourself the gift of peace of mind. Erect critter barriers now before things get out of hand. Protect against rabbits, mice, voles, deer, porcupines, whatever dines on your plants. After you've done all that mundane, practical nonsense, take a pleasure stroll around the neighborhood and enjoy the sublime. Enjoy the rich fall colors; find it in foliage but also in berries, fruits and seed heads. Maybe you'll even see some you could plant at home to liven things up in your garden, especially in combination with the obvious eye-catchers like mums, pansies and that unforgivable abomination, ornamental kale. And don't forget to ask your neighbors if they'd like to give away any of their leaves and clippings -- FREE STUFF is great where ever you find it! ENJOY!
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I can understand and envision the planting -- but DIGGING them up is something else entirely. (oh my oh my it just boggles my mind) Great Pix! ...
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
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Barbara,You said plant thousands of bulbs. That's what I'm doing. Check the picture on my article posted today. Yes, thousands of bulbs that I dug earlier this year. ...
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Fall cleanup is a ritual. I am not a tidy gardener, so this is a tough one for me, too. I like to wait for a warm day in later fall when I can savor the last bits of heat and sunshine.... Ri ...
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
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I really don't' enjoy the clean-up of the garden, but know it's necessary. Jerri
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What's in your day planner, journal, job jar or honey do list that I missed? At my house, it's finish planting stuff sitting around in pots. (Thus illistrating a classic case of do as I say not as ...
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
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