“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” -- Albert Camus
His observation reflects a view that those Americans in the northeast and Midwest can relate to as they get ready for autumn leaves and work in their gardens.
But the United States has many climate variations, of course, so how you view your gardening chores depends entirely on where you are.
For that matter, even in the colder U.S. climates it might be difficult to view those leaves as flowers as you rake, rake, rake in the fall.
If you’re in one of those regions, generally the northeast and Midwest, you can think about composting your leaves for use in the spring. You also might want to add organic material to your planting beds. And, as tough as it is to face it, you need to continue to pull weeds too.
You can also get in a late planting of cool-weather crops like lettuce, beans and beets. Be careful of your frost date though. Plant when it’s still warm.
Other cooler climate chores for the fall: clean garden tools, keep watering your shrubs, clean up your garden, and plant your spring bulbs.
You should also consider fertilizing your lawn a couple of times, September and November so it’ll be in tip-top shape in the spring, and get the mower out for one last cut before winter.
Once you get that first frost, you should also cut dead flowers and weed your perennial beds.
If you live in an area that is frost free, you have some garden chores also. You can actually plant some things in the autumn. Roses, maybe fruit trees. Check with local nurseries to see what’s available as the seasons change. You can also plant things like lettuce, kale and swiss chard, all cooler-weather crops. How about trying some wildflowers too?
And then there are those areas in between the cool, and the warm, which include the Pacific northwest, the southeast and the southwest. You too can plant some cool weather crops like lettuce in the fall, throw some wildflower seeds down and very importantly, watch for frost warnings so you can protect your plants.
Those of you in warmer climates should also be looking to plant trees and shrubs, and prune those you already have.
Garden Tips By 7 Distinct Areas:
1. Northeast
- In September, plant perennials, shrubs and roses. Also, reseed and repair lawns. You can also dig up spent summer annuals and replace them with plants like ornamental cabbage and mums, which do well in the cooler weather.
- In October, plant spring bulbs, rake leaves, start a leaf compost pile. And pansies! Don’t forget to plant some pansies.
- In November, wrap delicate plants in burlap, finish leaf raking, dig up and store gladiola corms, and others like dahlias.
2. Midwest
- In September, plant spring bulbs and fertilize the lawn. Snowdrops and crocus sprout early in the spring, so you get a pre-season treat.
- In October, finish raking leaves, dig up and store glads and dahlias. Also, pansies thrive in this climate too.
- In November, put soil around the base of rose bushes to get them ready for the winter.
3. Mountain west
- In September, harvest vegetables, frost is coming. Fertilize the lawn.
- In October, plant spring bulbs and fertilize the lawn one more time, rake leaves, think about a cover crop for your garden.
- In November, plant more bulbs, get the rest of the leaves raked.
4. Pacific northwest
- In September, fertilize and water your lawn and pick your vegetables. Make sure the more tender crops, like tomatoes, summer squash and melons are picked before the first frost.
- In October, get ready for frost, and cover crops that are still in the ground if need be, also attend to your lawn and fertilize. Some cool weather crops can survive when the temperature drops well under 30 degrees.
- In November, finish raking leaves, clean up the vegetable garden.
5. Southern California
- In September, buy spring bulbs and get them in, plant cooler weather vegetables like lettuce and peas, broccoli, and kale. Plant more seeds than you would in the spring, because crops will grow more slowly in the fall.
- In October, plant flowers and vegetables that thrive in the cooler weather. Also, bring in houseplants that may have been outdoors for the summer.
- In November, plant perennials, transplant trees and shrubs in you need to.
6. Desert southwest
- In September, plant spring bulbs, fertilize lawns. A wide variety of vegetables will grow in much of the region, from Swiss chard to spinach and from beets to turnips as the weather turns cooler and actually produces more tasty vegetables.
- In October, you can plant trees and plants that like the cool weather like lettuce.
- In November, keep planting and transplanting.
7. South
- In September, plant spring bulbs, trim back cooler-weather plants like petunias, reseed and fertilize the lawn. In the more northern sections of the south, fall crops stand the best chance if planted in late August, but in the more southern states September is just fine.
- In October, plant trees and shrubs, and cool season crops like lettuce. Keep an eye on the rainfall in your area, because fall tends to be dry. Crops need 2-3 inches a week, so you may need to water.
- In November, plant perennials and cool weather vegetables, and fertilize the lawn.
SCHEDULE A SCREENING
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