Now that Fall is officially here, it’s the perfect time to get your yard ready for winter. Here are a few tips for planting, protecting and preparing your landscape for winter and keep things looking great all year long.
What to plant in the Fall
Many folks are surprised to learn that autumn runs a close second to spring as the best time to plant, but it’s true. Cooler temperatures make it much more enjoyable to be working in the garden and the plants love it too. Roots have time to develop over the winter, letting plants and trees put all their energy into developing a strong foundation before spring and summer temperatures hit next year.
Nurseries and garden centers are filled with colorful flowers, trees and shrubs, perfect for some fun shopping too. For flowers with lots of color, look for pansies, snapdragons, cyclamen and mums. Vegetables love fall, too, and you can still plant things like spinach, kale, and lettuce to enjoy in the next few months.
Fall is also a good time to plant trees and shrubs. Since they don’t have to worry about putting out leaves, flowers or fruit at the time of year, they can also focus on developing a healthy, strong root system.
What do I need to protect my landscaping over winter?
A healthy yard is a beautiful yard so first thing you want to do is clean it up. Now is not the time for pruning, but it’s definitely a good time to neaten up your landscape. Remove dead leaves, deadhead spent blossoms, and cut back overgrown ornamental grasses and perennials.
Next, add mulch where it’s needed. Mulch is one of the best ways you can protect the plants you love this season. Just like a warm blanket, mulch acts as insulation and protection for trees and plants. New plants and trees will be vulnerable to frost damage, soil erosion, wind and water runoff. Mulch prevents erosion and insulates plant roots from freezing temperatures as they are developing. It even prevents mud from splashing up onto plants during heavy rain showers, which can spread disease and fungal spores.
To learn more about different types of mulch and what’s best for California gardens, please see “A California Home Gardener’s Guide to Mulch.”
Plan for a spring garden
Once you have your new plants in and mulch protecting them, it’s the perfect time to start dreaming and planning for a new year in the garden. The cooler temperatures are a perfect excuse for spending more time in your yard to identify what you’d like to change for next year. Consider how the sun hits each area to plan for the right type of plants, shrubs or trees. the best places for planting. If you haven’t had your irrigation system inspected in some time, it’s a good time to have a professional take a look. Updating your irrigation can actually save money and help your plants grow better with modern efficiency systems. If you’ve been hand watering, or your system is out of date, check out this article to learn “The Benefits of Installing an Irrigation System.”
We hope you love this season as much as we do and take the opportunity to spend more quality time enjoying life outside. For questions about fall planting, mulching, or irrigation systems in Visalia or throughout the San Joaquin and Central Valley area please feel free to call us at (559) 651-2333.