Autumn’s charms in East Gwillimbury are undeniable ‒ and fleeting. With cold weather fast approaching, it’s time to prepare your garden for a long winter nap.
1. TLC for trees and shrubs If you’d like to move young trees or shrubs, early fall is the perfect time. Make sure all trees and shrubs have been watered deeply before the first freeze occurs. After the ground has frozen, you’re ready to mulch. To avoid damage from local deer, protect tree trunks with deer netting.
2. Shield your perennials Before the ground freezes, dig up any delicate bulbs, like dahlia or gladiola, wrap them gently in a moist cloth and let them sleep out the winter in your basement or some other cool, dark spot. This is also the perfect time to start planning for next year’s garden by planting hardy new perennials, especially early bloomers.
3. Baby those roses Your roses need extra attention to help them survive a long winter. Give them a good, deep watering before the first frost. When the ground is frozen, make a mound of soil around the rose bush that’s high enough to completely cover the graft. Then encircle the rose bush with a rose collar or chicken wire, and fill the interior with organic mulch or straw. You can even tuck them into bed with a blanket made of burlap for extra protection against the winter cold.
Take advantage of the brilliant fall weather by spending just a little more precious time in your garden! These simple steps will allow your garden to rest well, and come vibrantly alive again in the spring.
Photo credit: CDeep