GardenGateMagazine.com | GARDEN GATE 83
- Prolonged autumn season
- Moderate winter temps
- Snow cover
midwest
Storing tender bulbs Most summer bulbs, such as dahlia and canna, won’t survive freezing temperatures.
To carry them over, you must dig them up and store them indoors. After frost yellows the foliage, dig and
separate your bulbs. Cut the foliage off ½ in. to 6 in. above the bulb and remove clinging soil. Discard
damaged bulbs. Dry the good ones for 3 to 7 days. Layer dried bulbs in a ventilated laundry basket, mesh
bag or old nylons, and stack or hang them in a place that stays in the 50s. Check on your bulbs monthly.
Throw out soft ones and mist those that have shriveled. Pot up the bulbs indoors in March or wait to plant
them in the garden when night temperatures are above 50 degrees. (USDA zones 1 to 6)
Fall web worms These caterpillars build quite the home in the canopy of many shade trees in early fall. The
webs can become so thick that they look like cotton candy on a stick. There are multiple generations each
year, but the caterpillars that are active in fall are the ones that will return next year. Developing caterpillars
feed on leaves, which sometimes can defoliate young trees. Prune out smaller webs or use a high-pressure
sprayer to knock the web out of the tree. Although the webs are unsightly, most mature trees are able to
survive repeated infestations without suff ering permanent harm. (USDA zones 4 to 7)
Compost to a better garden Fall is a great time to start a compost pile. Collect grass clippings, leaves and
food scraps, such as banana peels and coff ee grounds. When you’re collecting leaves, use your lawn mower
to chop them into small pieces before you add them to the compost. Start with smaller pieces to get usable
compost sooner. Spread compost on fl ower beds and around vegetables to improve the soil and add
nutrients for more robust plants next year. (USDA zones 2 to 7)
Save some seed Collect seeds from your favorite annuals to plant for next year. Zinnia, sunfl ower and marigold
are easy fl owers to start with. To collect the seeds, leave some blooms on the plant until they’re dry. Then
remove the entire fl ower. Separate the seeds from the dried petals by crushing the fl ower with your fi nger
over a piece of white paper. if they’re not completely dry yet, let them sit out for a few days. When the seeds
are completely dry, carefully pour the seeds into a zip-top plastic bag, paper envelope or baby food jar until
you’re ready to plant them. Dried seeds will keep for 3 to 4 years in a cool, dry spot. (USDA zones 2 to 8)southeast
Perennial division Do you feel like you’re running out of time to get all those giant perennials divided? Don’t
sweat it; you have a bit longer than most other gardeners. In the southeast, you can usually divide perennials
into October. Just be sure to mulch around the new plants and keep the soil moist. (USDA zones 6 to 10)
Tie ‘em down Winter winds can sometimes be rough on climbing roses. Tie loose canes to a trellis or arbor so
they don’t break. Use strips of old cotton T-shirts. Because the fabric naturally stretches a bit, it won’t damage
the canes as they move. (USDA zones 7 to 10)
Revive your petunias Toward the end of summer your petunias are probably looking pretty scraggly. That’s
OK. Just cut the plant back by a third to a half. This late-season haircut will not only make the foliage look
better, but you might get a fresh fl ush of blooms, too. This also works with some perennials like cranesbill
and catmint. (USDA zones 7 to 10)
An ounce of prevention It’s a good idea to use a pre-emergent herbicide, such as Preen®, before you plant
cool-season annuals. The herbicide will help prevent weed seeds from sprouting, and that means less
weeding later on. Follow all label instructions when using herbicides in the garden. (USDA zones 6 to 10)northeast
Feeder frenzy Clean out your birdfeeder before fall. Nonmigratory birds have a harder time fi nding food
under the snow, so you can give them a hand by fi lling your feeders with a tasty treat. Put the feeder out in
fall so the birds that are sticking around have time to locate the new food source before they’re desperate.
(USDA zones 3 to 5)
Move houseplants inside As nighttime temperatures begin to drop, it’s time to bring your houseplants back
into the house. Before you carry them back inside, check them over for any unwanted guests. Houseplants
that have been outside for the summer often pick up insect pests. Look under leaves, at the joint between
leaves and stems and on the soil surface for six-legged hitchhikers. If you fi nd any, pick them off by hand,
spray plants with soapy water to wash them off or use an insecticidal soap. Clean plants outside so you don’t
spray anything on your furniture and walls. (USDA zones 2 to 5)
Frosty forecast Keep an eye open for the nighttime forecasts of frost in your area. Many garden plants can be
protected from light frost with an old bed sheet or other nonplastic material over them. You don’t want to
use plastic because it’ll burn the leaves if it touches them. (USDA zones 2 to 7)- Extreme temp changes
- Variable snow cover
- Possible high winds
- Warm temperatures
- Extended growing season
- High humidity and rain
GG14967_83_BONUS.indd 83GG14967_83_BONUS.indd 83 6/26/2019 12:43:37 PM6/26/2019 12:43:37 PMGardenGateMagazine.com | GARDEN GATE 83
- Prolonged autumn season
- Moderate winter temps
- Snow cover
midwest
Storing tender bulbs Most summer bulbs, such as dahlia and canna, won’t survive freezing temperatures.
To carry them over, you must dig them up and store them indoors. After frost yellows the foliage, dig and
separate your bulbs. Cut the foliage off ½ in. to 6 in. above the bulb and remove clinging soil. Discard
damaged bulbs. Dry the good ones for 3 to 7 days. Layer dried bulbs in a ventilated laundry basket, mesh
bag or old nylons, and stack or hang them in a place that stays in the 50s. Check on your bulbs monthly.
Throw out soft ones and mist those that have shriveled. Pot up the bulbs indoors in March or wait to plant
them in the garden when night temperatures are above 50 degrees. (USDA zones 1 to 6)
Fall web worms These caterpillars build quite the home in the canopy of many shade trees in early fall. The
webs can become so thick that they look like cotton candy on a stick. There are multiple generations each
year, but the caterpillars that are active in fall are the ones that will return next year. Developing caterpillars
feed on leaves, which sometimes can defoliate young trees. Prune out smaller webs or use a high-pressure
sprayer to knock the web out of the tree. Although the webs are unsightly, most mature trees are able to
survive repeated infestations without suff ering permanent harm. (USDA zones 4 to 7)
Compost to a better garden Fall is a great time to start a compost pile. Collect grass clippings, leaves and
food scraps, such as banana peels and coff ee grounds. When you’re collecting leaves, use your lawn mower
to chop them into small pieces before you add them to the compost. Start with smaller pieces to get usable
compost sooner. Spread compost on fl ower beds and around vegetables to improve the soil and add
nutrients for more robust plants next year. (USDA zones 2 to 7)
Save some seed Collect seeds from your favorite annuals to plant for next year. Zinnia, sunfl ower and marigold
are easy fl owers to start with. To collect the seeds, leave some blooms on the plant until they’re dry. Then
remove the entire fl ower. Separate the seeds from the dried petals by crushing the fl ower with your fi nger
over a piece of white paper. if they’re not completely dry yet, let them sit out for a few days. When the seeds
are completely dry, carefully pour the seeds into a zip-top plastic bag, paper envelope or baby food jar until
you’re ready to plant them. Dried seeds will keep for 3 to 4 years in a cool, dry spot. (USDA zones 2 to 8)southeast
Perennial division Do you feel like you’re running out of time to get all those giant perennials divided? Don’t
sweat it; you have a bit longer than most other gardeners. In the southeast, you can usually divide perennials
into October. Just be sure to mulch around the new plants and keep the soil moist. (USDA zones 6 to 10)
Tie ‘em down Winter winds can sometimes be rough on climbing roses. Tie loose canes to a trellis or arbor so
they don’t break. Use strips of old cotton T-shirts. Because the fabric naturally stretches a bit, it won’t damage
the canes as they move. (USDA zones 7 to 10)
Revive your petunias Toward the end of summer your petunias are probably looking pretty scraggly. That’s
OK. Just cut the plant back by a third to a half. This late-season haircut will not only make the foliage look
better, but you might get a fresh fl ush of blooms, too. This also works with some perennials like cranesbill
and catmint. (USDA zones 7 to 10)
An ounce of prevention It’s a good idea to use a pre-emergent herbicide, such as Preen®, before you plant
cool-season annuals. The herbicide will help prevent weed seeds from sprouting, and that means less
weeding later on. Follow all label instructions when using herbicides in the garden. (USDA zones 6 to 10)northeast
Feeder frenzy Clean out your birdfeeder before fall. Nonmigratory birds have a harder time fi nding food
under the snow, so you can give them a hand by fi lling your feeders with a tasty treat. Put the feeder out in
fall so the birds that are sticking around have time to locate the new food source before they’re desperate.
(USDA zones 3 to 5)
Move houseplants inside As nighttime temperatures begin to drop, it’s time to bring your houseplants back
into the house. Before you carry them back inside, check them over for any unwanted guests. Houseplants
that have been outside for the summer often pick up insect pests. Look under leaves, at the joint between
leaves and stems and on the soil surface for six-legged hitchhikers. If you fi nd any, pick them off by hand,
spray plants with soapy water to wash them off or use an insecticidal soap. Clean plants outside so you don’t
spray anything on your furniture and walls. (USDA zones 2 to 5)
Frosty forecast Keep an eye open for the nighttime forecasts of frost in your area. Many garden plants can be
protected from light frost with an old bed sheet or other nonplastic material over them. You don’t want to
use plastic because it’ll burn the leaves if it touches them. (USDA zones 2 to 7)- Extreme temp changes
- Variable snow cover
- Possible high winds
- Warm temperatures
- Extended growing season
- High humidity and rain