Fall Home Improvement

Darrell Blackwelder

September 20, 2002

     The extended drought over the summer has given even the most accomplished gardener cause to rethink their fall gardening endeavors. Early fall, especially November, is one of the driest months of the year. Many are trying to determine just what outdoor activities can be done during fall and winter in preparation for next season’s planting. The recent rains have not tempered the threat of future droughts and damage that normally follows.  Even so, there is still work to be done for home gardeners. Many chores and activities still need to be done for the upcoming season that will not rely on constant irrigation. Below are outdoor tasks that need to be accomplished:

     *Reevaluate your lawn now. There may be areas that are dead or weedy.  Is the problem due to drought, light competition from trees, insects, or sheer neglect?  Make the effort to determine what needs to be done, whether trimming trees, incorporating a natural area, or designing a total makeover. Grass seed will germinate with our spotty rains.

     *Hardscaping your landscape—Fall is an excellent time to install the brick sidewalk, dry stacked rock wall, low voltage lighting, and the increasingly important drip irrigation system.  These are lightweight projects even the novice can do. Much information is available on line and there are books galore at retail outlets. Better to undertake such projects now than in the heat of the summer.

         *Core-aerate your lawn—Core aerating after rain promotes the intensity of fertilizers, seed, and air exchange for fescue lawns. Do not core in the spring.

     *Take soil samples now. This is a free service provided by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture that lets you fine tune fertilization efforts. Correct fertilization keeps plants healthy and beneficial to our environment.

     *Compost leaves-My leaves have already begun to prematurely drop and will soon need a place to go.  Composting fallen leaves provides organic mulch that provides nutrients and helps hold water around plants.

     *Fall clean up of spent garden and floral debris is very important in controlling many of the diseases that seem to plague home gardeners.  Now is the time to clean debris from vegetable and flower gardens, especially since most are now dead or dying from the recent frosts. Master Gardener Volunteers have been working the past few weeks to remove and compost debris at the West End Horticultural Demonstration Garden on Brenner Avenue

     *Pruning can still be done.  Contrary to popular belief, pruning can be done year round. Light, judicious pruning does not kill plants.  Spring flowering shrubs will not bloom if pruned back in the fall, but will not kill plant material.  Low lying tree limbs can be removed now to give easy access to mowers, etc. Pruning maple and birch trees in the fall is actually the best time since they bleed severely when pruned in the spring.  Severely pruning hedges should be done in late March. Prune back tall roses, but not as severely as in March to keep winter wind from damaging plants.

     *Tree removal-The continual drought has taken a toll on many trees.  Fall is an excellent time to evaluate your options and remove dead, dying, or even unwanted trees. Some trees, no matter how much shade they give us, cause problems. My sweet gums, which drop spiny balls, are coming out this fall.

     *Mulch—fall and winter is a great time to apply mulch. Organic mulch protects from freezing weather, conserves moisture and helps control weeds. Pine needles, bark, or composted materials do not attract termites, however, mulch with green wood will attract termites. 

     *Plant spring flowering bulbs now—spring flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and narcissus should be planted in fall.  Plant bulbs in groups rather that long straight rows.  These can be easily hand watered if needed.

     *Containerized plantings—large containers with pansies, flowering cabbage or kale and other wintering plants will add a spark of color throughout the winter.

     *Fall is for dividing—Take time to divide perennial such as daylilies, liriope and other perennials.  After three years of active growth, many require dividing or thinning to achieve their maximum growth and bloom potential.

     *Plant cover crops--such as rye grain, wheat, clover, or oats. Cover crops reduce erosion and add much needed organic matter when plowed under as green manures in the spring. Green manures improve the workability of the soil and reduce certain weed populations in many crops. Plant now so the crops can germinate.  These often lie on the ground until rainfall, but will eventually germinate.