Transcript Garden Clean Up - Union County Master Gardeners

Garden Clean Up
Debbie D. Dillion
Extension Agent Horticulture
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Union County
Discussion
Why clean up?
Fall versus Spring
Tools
Techniques
Why Clean Up???
Sanitation (& possibly protection)
Remove spent plant material from
herbaceous annuals & perennials
Reduce insect & disease organisms
Reduce weed seed bank
Use spent plant material for plant protection
Manage excess fallen leaves
Personal preference
Neat & tidy garden versus ”not so”
Jump start on spring
Fall versus Spring Clean Up
Fall
Spring
 Neater/more formal winter
appearance
 More natural/less formal winter
appearance
 Reduce weed seed bank
 Remove winter annual weeds
 Reduce overwintering insect &
disease
 Allows for overwintering insect
& disease
 Organic matter may be used as  Organic matter may be used
mulch to protect plants from
as mulch or composted
winter cold/frost heaving or
 Plants harder to cut
composted
back/down
 Plants easy to cut back/down
 Mushy
 Firm
 Can take steps to protect
marginally hardy plants
 May have winter damage to
deal with
Tools
Hand pruners, Shears, Loppers, Pole
pruner, Chainsaw
Weeding fork
Scythe, Weed eater
Edger
Rakes, Blowers, Shredder, Composter
Lawnmower
Wheelbarrow, Tarp, Trug, Bags
Techniques – Vegetable Garden
Diagram garden for use in crop rotation next
year
Harvest warm season veggies before frost
Plant cool season vegetables/garlic
Remove weeds
Remove all spent plant material & debris from
garden
if healthy, compost; if diseased, burn or bag for trash
pick up
Techniques – Vegetable Garden
 Remove stakes, cages, row markers, plastic mulch
 Carrots or other root crops can be left in the ground
- mulch with straw layer to prevent soil freezing;
mark so can find
 Prepare soil for spring planting
soil test every 2-3 years - add lime & fertilizer as
recommended
incorporate organic mulches
topdress with rotted manure and/or shredded leaves
plant cover crop to mine soil nutrients & prevent soil
erosion
Techniques - Fruits
Remove dropped fruit & mummies from planting
Remove litter/plant debris
Remove weeds
Prune dead, diseased, damaged plant parts
Blackberries – prune this year’s floricanes to
ground
Raspberries – prune according to type or
desired cropping
Techniques - Fruits
Blueberries, Grapes, Fruit Trees – prune late
winter
Strawberries – cover with straw
Figs – build a cage around & fill with
leaves/straw to prevent winter damage
Soil test if needed – add amendments as
recommended
Mulch
Techniques - Lawns
Rake heavy leaf accumulations &
compost or use mulching lawnmower to
shred leaves so pieces can decompose
into soil
Manage weeds
Hand removal
Organic or chemical control
In warm season grasses – after completely
dormant can use glyphosate product to
control actively growing weeds
Techniques - Lawns
 Cool season lawns in fall
 overseed or renovate if needed
 keep mowing at 2.5 – 3.5” as long as growth continues
 core-aerate
 topdress with compost
 fertilize & lime based on soil test
 Warm season lawns in late spring
 overseed or renovate if needed
 core aerate
 topdress with compost
 fertilize & lime based on soil test
Techniques – Herbaceous Plants
Collect seeds of desirable annuals & store for
spring planting
Remove weeds
Remove diseased plant debris
Fall - plant spring flowering bulbs before ground
freezes
Spring - plant summer flowering bulbs after
danger of frost or start indoors in pots 4 weeks
before last frost date, then transplant into
garden after frost
Cut perennials back to 3” above ground
Techniques – Herbaceous Plants
Leave some plants with seedheads that will
attract birds in winter
Leave some plants as cover for birds & for winter
interest (grasses, sedums)
Divide established perennials as needed,
replant, share, compost
Dig tender bulbs & dry for storage in cool, dark
spot until spring
Plant bulbs & new perennials
Add fresh mulch if needed
Techniques – Trees & Shrubs
 Prune any dead, damaged, disease parts
 Prune deciduous trees &summer flowering shrubs after
they are dormant
 Light pruning can be done on evergreens after they are
dormant to provide greenery for holiday decorations
 DO NOT prune spring flowering shrubs
 Based on soil test - fertilize trees & shrubs after they are
dormant – soil will still be warm enough for root uptake &
growth
 Fall – transplant deciduous shrubs & small trees before
the ground freezes
 Early spring – transplant evergreen shrubs, hybrid tea
roses, & small trees
Techniques – Trees & Shrubs
 Water trees & shrubs as necessary – especially
evergreens
 Mulch
 Rake leaves & compost or shred & used as mulch
 Stake newly planted trees to prevent wind damage
 Consider screens or barriers for highly valued cold
sensitive plants (or not)
 If voles have been a problem in the past install guards
around trunks of susceptible trees
 If you plan to have a live Christmas tree, dig the planting
hole now, place a board over the hole, & store soil
where it will not freeze
Techniques - Miscellaneous
Store seeds, fertilizers, pesticides properly
Moving house plants indoors
Examine closely for insects, disease
Rinse them well with mild detergent/water solution
Treat several weeks ahead of time with systemic
insecticide
Empty clay, terra cotta, ceramic pots, bird
baths, other garden ornaments, clean, & store
Disconnect garden hoses, drain, store
Drain & shut off irrigation system
Take down stakes & trellisses, clean & store
Techniques - Miscellaneous
Shut down water garden, move aquatic plants
indoors to ensure survival; remove pumps
Clean hand tools, oil
Sand rough spots on wooden handles, oil
Equipment maintenance
Drain gas from power equipment or use up by running
equipment
add fuel stabilizer to stored fuel
Change oil, filter, replace spark plug, clean foam
filters, replace paper filters
Make sure battery is charged
Relax, reflect, plan
Questions ???
Discussion . . .