Now’s the Perfect Time to Prepare for a Fall Garden
Summer may be winding down to a close, but your garden is just entering the next phase of growth. September is the perfect time to prepare for a fall garden and plant many hearty vegetables like beans, radishes, turnips, beets, collards, Brussel sprouts, green onions, and lettuce. Here are a few tips for preparing your garden for Fall.
Fall gardens have many benefits.
Not only does a Fall garden extend your growing and harvesting season, but many people also prefer gardening in the Fall over the Spring and Summer seasons. In many regions, the weather during the Autumn months is milder, making it more relaxing to spend time outdoors performing gardening activities. Plants are less susceptible to damage for insects since these pests begin settling down into hibernation locations as the weather cools. Regardless, windier conditions will keep many pests away from your garden and you. The return of rain makes the soil moister but not unmanageable.
How to prepare for a Fall garden.
The first step to creating a lush Fall garden is to clean up the existing Spring/Summer plantings. Now’s the time to remove all the plants that are no longer producing
viable vegetables. Tomatoes and peppers will produce into September, but other vegetables planted in the spring, such as beans, cucumbers, and lettuce, should be pulled and discarded into your compost pile. It’s essential to weed the area and clean up any fallen fruits or vegetables in the area.
Next, your soil will enjoy a good refresh before new plants arrive. Remove any old mulch since it probably lost most of its structure. Use a garden fork to loosen up compacted soil gently. Apply amendments to replenish the soil of nutrients. Our team at Hilton Landscape Supply can give you advice on the best amendments to add to your specific ground.
Create a map for your Fall garden and add plants. Be sure to check any in-ground watering systems to ensure they are still in good working order.
Finally, add a new layer of mulch to your garden to protect the new plants. If you’re using fallen leaves as part of your compost, it’s best to shred them up well (mowing them works great) and then apply water to the layer of leaves to keep them in place. Add a layer of mulch on top of the leaves to keep them in place and encourage them to break down.
Hilton Landscape Supply has everything you need for a Fall garden.
Whether your garden needs a fresh load of soil, a new layer of mulch, or the best fertilizers and nutrients for your area, Hilton Landscape Supply is the place to go. We’ve been serving Southern Oregon and Northern California since 1956, so we know what works best for growing healthy plants and vegetation in our regions. Stop by our retail store in Central Point or contact us for more information about all the products we carry to enhance your garden and outdoor living areas.