Fall Gardening
There are two schools of thought about the perennial flower garden in the fall. The first (and most recent) says to leave the garden as it is. The stalks and spent seedheads will provide “winter interest”. Clean up the garden in the spring.
The second and more traditional is to clean up the garden in the fall, cut all stalks down and remove them to the compost pile.
I’m a traditionalist. I think a messy garden in the fall looks messy all winter and I can tell you it is a heck of a thing to clean up half-rotted stalks and leaves in the spring. It is much easier to do the garden housekeeping in the fall.
The exception
The exception to this rule is the ornamental grasses in the perennial garden. Do not cut these in the fall. The anecdotal evidence seems to point to increased hardiness on marginally-hardy grasses if they are left uncut.
Having said that – hardy grasses can be left for “winter interest” or chopped back to the ground depending on the garden aesthetics of the gardener in their fall gardening efforts.
I chop all my herbaceous perennials back to the ground in the fall. The leaves go to the compost piles or are left on the garden while the woody stems are broken up as much as possible before going into the pile.
Non-herbaceous plants
Plants that are not herbaceous such as lavender or dianthus – plants that do not die back to the ground – are not trimmed back but left above ground to overwinter.
The tender ones can be sprayed with an anti-desiccant to help them retain moisture in the plant and not lose moisture through the leaves (killing the leaves over winter).
I generally spread or renew mulch at this time of year because it is cheap to purchase and because with the plants cut to the ground, it is easy to spread. If you cover over the plant crowns, be prepared to pull that mulch away from the crowns in the spring. On the whole, I find that leaving the crowns uncovered is a safe way to go for beginners. (Covering the crowns with a moisture retentive material can lead to crown rot over the winter on many perennials) Note the crown is the main growing point.
Compost can be spread if it is ready. I usually throw mine around in the spring but fall is equally good. Don’t bother working it in – just toss it onto the garden. It will settle over winter and in the spring, it will be there for the soil to appreciate.
I do not spray plants in the winter for fungal infections etc. I find that simply removing leaves and all plant debris is the best way to fight next year’s problems.
Finished fall garden
When I’m finished, the fall garden is freshly mulched, close cropped and looks ready for next year’s garden. Then I slowly drink a glass of Scotch and appreciate the garden one last time on a sunny fall day.
p.s. the single most important thing you can have in your garden is a bench or seat for two. If you have no place to sit – the only time you’ll spend time in your garden is to work there. Get a place to sit – enjoy the peace of a garden in full bloom and fall gardening at rest. Life is good.
Do you have a question about Fall Gardening?