Fall is not a time to let idly pass for the gardener.  Here is a list of ten things that can be of benefit to you and your garden this time of year.

1.  Collect leaves for your compost pile - Leaves mixed with other yard waste will over time produce a vibrant nutrient rich organic supplement to your yard and garden.

2.  Fertilize your lawn - By fertilizing now most of the energy goes into the roots and not the top growth that needs to be mowed.

3.  Plant spring flowering bulbs - Whether planting tulips, daffodils,  hyacinths, or more exotic bulbs such as crown imperial, now is the time to get them in the ground.

4.  Plant garlic - Hard neck garlic will produce bigger heads if it is fall planted.

5.  Cover strawberries - Strawberries should be covered in mid November with an organic mulch (straw, chopped corn stalks, chopped leaves other than oak) that is 3-4" thick after settling.

6.  Clean up vegetable garden - Put remnants of garden in a compost pile except for diseased plants of which should be disposed.

7.  Plant trees - Most of our native trees can still be planted now.  Be sure to give them a 3-4" thick wood chip mulch at the base.

8.  Mulch other trees - A wood chip mulch is not only beneficial to newly planted trees, it can also help existing trees this time of the year by moderating soil temperature.

9.  Cover roses - Tie canes together, mound base with a couple shovels full of soil (or perhaps compost if you followed number one in a previous year), cover with straw or chopped leaves.

10.  Enjoy any remaining fall color - Assuming you have done most of the items above, you deserve a short break from gardening duties.

Two major events gardeners should keep on their radar are the Winter Gardening Fair on Febuary 6, 2010 in Cedar Rapids (information soon to be found at:  /linn/yardgarden.htm) and the Iowa State Horticultural Society All Iowa Exposition on March 19-20, 2010 (http://www.iowahort.org/).

For those interested in growing fruits or vegetables commercially, or for those that just want to learn more in depth on the subject, two upcoming events are the Iowa-Illinois Fruit and Vegetable Symposium on December 11, 2009 in Bettendorf (/johnson/ or 319-337-2145) and the Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Conference January 29-30, 2010 in Des Moines (ifvga@q.com) or 515-232-5801).


Patti 10/26/2009