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It’s Not Too Late to Plant: Essential Fall Tips for a Thriving Garden in Cincinnati
Fall may be in full swing, but it’s not time to hang up those gardening gloves just yet! As October draws to a close, there are still plenty of ways to keep your garden thriving through the colder months. From watering essentials to fall lawn care and tree protection, here are the best fall gardening tips to ensure a healthy, vibrant landscape this season.
Whether you’re tending to your lawn, prepping perennials, or giving trees a little extra care, these fall garden tips from Cincinnati’s plant experts will set you up for success. Let’s get started!
Late Fall Garden Tips: Keep Your Soil and Lawn Healthy
1. Keep Plants Hydrated for Winter Survival
Even as temperatures drop, your trees, shrubs, and perennials still need water to survive the winter and bounce back in spring. Evergreens, in particular, benefit from extra moisture now. Water deeply once a week to keep roots hydrated.
2. Last Call for Lawn Care
If you haven’t tackled your lawn yet, don’t worry—there’s still time! Aerate, fertilize and seed your lawn before winter sets in. Remember, watering is key to ensuring those seeds are established before the freeze.
3. Stop Weeds with Pre-Emergent
Prevent a spring weed invasion by applying a pre-emergent now. It blocks winter annuals like chickweed and henbit, saving you a headache come spring.
4. Tackle Weeds Effectively
Fall is the ideal time to handle broadleaf weeds. They’re absorbing nutrients into their roots for winter, so weed treatments work more effectively. Just avoid weed killers if you’ve recently seeded—wait until new grass has been mowed at least three times.
5. Till and Improve Soil Health
Prepare your soil now to make spring gardening easier. Tilling breaks up compacted soil and incorporates compost, pine soil conditioner, or ground leaves to boost soil health. Your spring garden will thank you!
Fall Tree Care Tips: Keep Your Trees Protected This Winter
1. Water Root Zones for Healthier Trees
Newly planted trees and shrubs need consistent watering until the ground freezes. Pay special attention to moisture near foundation plants, which can dry out faster than expected. For tips, Click Here!
2. Time to Transplant
Fall is perfect for relocating trees, shrubs, or perennials. Water them thoroughly to help establish roots before winter.
3. Light Pruning and Feeding
Light pruning is safe for evergreens and overgrown trees in late fall, but save heavy pruning for late winter or early spring. Now is also a great time for a nutrient boost—try vertical mulching or soil injections, and consider half-strength feeding for evergreens.
Fall Garden Tips for Perennials: Prep Now for a Beautiful Spring
1. Divide Crowded Perennials
Now’s the time to dig up and divide perennials like iris and peonies. This gives them space to thrive and encourages more blooms next year.
2. Clean Up and Compost
Remove dead foliage from perennials and clear out annuals and vegetable plants. Leave roots behind to break down and enrich the soil. Compost any disease-free plant material to add nutrients back into your garden.
Boost Fall Flower Power
1. Dig Up and Store Summer Bulbs
Once frost hits, let the tops of bulbs like cannas, begonias, and caladiums die back, then dig them up and store them in a cool, dark place for replanting next year.
2. Wait on Rose Protection
Hold off on protecting roses until they’re fully dormant and the ground is nearly frozen. Trim long branches lightly, but save major pruning for spring to avoid cutting off next season’s growth.
With these expert fall gardening tips, you can keep your Cincinnati garden healthy and vibrant. Have questions about fall garden care? Contact our experts today, and keep your garden thriving through every season!