Fall Gardening Tips for the Rockies

The beautiful fall weather appears to be stretching into October this year with no serious frost even in valleys of the Canadian Rockies. One of the most important things a gardener can do to prepare for winter is to make sure the garden soil is evenly moist. In our area we are well behind our normal rainfall for the year. We may yet receive torrential rains before the ground freezes solid, but it would be unwise to rely on this, because the potential for damage to your garden is considerable. In addition to the obvious need every plant has for water, moist soil freezes over well providing a protective crust that prevents deep penetration of sub zero temperatures. Even normally hardy plants and shrubs can be severely damaged or even killed off when bitter cold weather hits during a dry spell. Don't be fooled by cool, cloudy days and morning dews, your garden could be dangerously dry. The best way to test for soil moisture remains to dig in and check for yourself.

Planting Bulbs

It is time to plant spring flowering bulbs. Bulbs need some time to settle in and grow roots, so don't wait too long. Follow package instructions, but remember in most colder climates it is best to put the bulbs a little deeper than in milder coastal areas. Bone meal is often recommended in planting instructions, but if you live in a neighborhood where dogs and cats roam free, my advice is to skip this. I've learned from experience that once a dog has dug up one bulb, he can't resist the rest! 'The variety in type, colour, and spring bloom dates is enormous. You can expand the bloom season over many months using the earliest snow drop and then working through to the spectacular late season tulips. Or you might try orchestrating one grand showing of many bulbs with the same bloom time.

Pruning

Pruning times vary for each shrub or tree and it is wise to study each one individually before attacking with a saw or pruners. On the other hand it is never the wrong time of year to remove any dead wood, or remove an unwanted shrub to clear the area for some replanting next spring.

Mulch for Winter Protection

It is probably not feasible to mulch everything thing in your garden, but a cherished shrub or vine might benefit by the extra protection especially if they are going through their first winter. Hybrid roses certainly should be mulched well, but doing a heavy mulch too soon can cause mold and disease if the mulch material starts to decompose in warmer weather. I've had no problem with spring bulbs breaking through a fairly heavy layer of wood and bark mulch, but was disappointed with foliage and buds being twisted, yellowed and deformed trying to push their way through a layer of straw. Really, a heavy cover of snow is the best protective cover for a garden, unfortunately gardeners are never guaranteed of this.

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