The rains are here, and the leaves are falling. It is time for some fall garden chores.

Whether it be moving plants or adding some plants, fall is the best time to do such tasks. Did you take some notes of some tree’s fall color you would like to add to your own yard? It is always a good idea to do some research about how big a plant gets before adding one to the garden.

On that note, did a plant outgrow its boundary? It is time to get out that shovel, wheel barrow and some muscle and move it. Please, don’t just dig. Understand how the plant grows first. For example, if I were to move a tree I would measure the trunk and for every inch dig a foot of root ball.  And if I were to move a shrub I would dig a good amount of roots along with it. I just started moving some rhododendrons with great success.

If a shrub is too big you may cut it back a third then move it. You may not get blooms the first couple of years. Another neat thing is plant propagation. This is at the base of the plant; where a limb touches the ground it will begin to root. Cut it away from the parent plant and, “bam!” a new plant. What fun for a gloomy day. If you would like to make more of the plant try some propagation. Take a limb and bend it towards the ground and put some weight on it and by the next fall it should begin to root. I have done that before.  For any questions on any plants feel free to e-mail me.

Now it is time to winterize your sprinkler system if you have one. If not, begin to put those hoses away and cover your water bibs or at least get ready to. Give the lawn a cut short as possible then continue to lightly dust some compost on the lawn, and if it is too heavy with moss rake it first then compost. Feeding the soil is important for its health. I will go over more on this later.

Happy gardening,

Gardener Joe