As the leaves begin to fall and the growing season draws to a close, there are some good landscaping practices we can do to help our plants survive the harsh winter months to come. Traditionally, fall is a time for raking and bagging up all the fallen leaves and sadly, sending them off to the landfill. However, if left on the ground in your garden, the leaves and other dead foliage from perennials will help keep moisture in the soil, insulate plant roots from cold dry wind and provide a winter habitat for beneficial insects.
In addition to leaving the leaves, the following recommended practices will help you maintain a healthy and more eco-friendly garden through the off season:
In the fall, allow plants to die back and go dormant. Leave the dead foliage from perennials and ornamental grasses in place to help maintain moisture in the soil, protect plant roots, harbor beneficial insects, and give winter interest to the landscape
Rake the leaves into planting beds to provide a natural mulch that will help retain moisture in the soil and add nutrients as the leaves decompose over time. Leaves can also be added to a compost bin but should not be left to pile up on turf grass since the leaves can get compacted by snow and smother the grass
Over the winter, make sure the soil does not dry out if there is a long period without any snow or rain. Some hand watering may be necessary. Make sure shrubs and trees do not dry out and are watered well 1 - 2 times a month if there is little or no precipitation
Late winter and early spring is the time to clean up the dead foliage from the previous year’s growth. Perennials, without woody stems, and ornamental grasses should be cut down and any dead foliage cleared away. Pull the mulch away from the base of perennial plants to allow sunlight to warm the soil and prompt new growth.
In the spring, add a fresh layer of bark mulch, if needed, to maintain a 3 - 4-inch layer around the plants. Keep mulch away from the bases of the plants so the new growth is not covered over. Then sit back and enjoy watching your garden come back to life!
For information on how to transform your landscape into a more beautiful and water-wise Xeriscape, check out the Xeric Gardens web site and other informative postings on their Blog page:
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