You are probably standing in front of the window and staring at your back yard or front yard and you are probably thinking “Those blooms are so dead. The mulch so dry. Those perennials so slimy”. If this sounds like you then your garden needs a face lift.

Pruning is the most important practice for spring and fall. Not only your garden will look better but it will also be healthier. In fact dead leaves and blooms are very attractive to fungi and bacteria that will quickly infect your plants and, unfortunately, kill them.

So, take your pruners and get ready to cut!

1. Trees

Trees don’t talk but they are very good at showing how they feel. Just go outside and look at the tree/trees in your yard.

• Does it show some dead branches and twigs? Remove them. The tree is about to go dormant so it will be less likely to get a disease

• Did its leaves turn brown too early, did its needles thin and turn brown? Call your local arborist and ask for suggestions. Your tree might be sick.

2. Shrubs

Shrubs can be evergreen and deciduous. Your evergreen shrubs will keep their leaves on as opposed to the deciduous that will start loosing their leaves.

If your shrub doesn’t have blooms then you don’t need to worry about it but if your shrub does bloom in spring and summer then you might want to cut the dead blooms. You DON’T have to but it’s recommended, in fact your shrub will bloom even more the next year if you cut the blooms in fall.

This is a good time to discipline your shrub. Just cut the branches that are protruding from the canopy but don't forget to see where the new buds are and cut just above them!

3. Perennials

Perennials are quite easy to take care of: the general rule is to cut them back almost to the ground when they turn totally brown. You can do this because their roots survive throughout the winter so they will come back next year!

Just make sure to use clean, sharp pruners or shears for a clear cut and avoid multiple wounds…don’t forget, fungi and bacteria are waiting just around the corner!

4. Annuals and vegetables

Unlike perennials, annuals and vegetables’ roots don’t survive throughout the winter so they won’t come back next year. There is no reason to leave them in the ground. Just pull them up and add them to your compost pile. As easy as it can be!

Pruning isn’t the only thing you need to do for fall maintenance. Now it’s time for some cleanup!

1. Remove weeds and leaves

No, it’s not fun but it needs to be done. Again, don’t forget the fungi and bacteria…they are hungry folks!

Pull out the weeds making sure that all the root systems comes out as well. Rake as many leaves as you can and let’s move to the next step.

2. Mulching

Fall mulch is probably the most important step! Like spring mulch, fall mulch retains moisture in the soil, suppresses weeds, and protects the soil from erosion but it also provides few more things:

• it provides a warmer environment for the microbial world to develop (earthworms and microbes). These organisms will stay active longer into the cold season making the soil a better place for plants.

• it insulates plants roots moderating the temperature fluctuations in the soil.

• you won’t need to mulch in spring!

Try to lay a 3-inch layer of mulch nut make sure not to mulch on top of the crown of the perennials.

3. Conmpost

COMPOST ONLY THE HEALTHY MATERIAL! Destroy any diseased plant material; pathogens and insect pests can overwinter in dead leaves and plant material causing an infestation the next year.

4. Winterize containers

Clean up every planter from annuals and store them for next year! If you have mixed containers with annuals and perennials or shrubs just remove the annuals and bring the containers inside. Planters freeze and crack and the plant roots may die.

5. Winterize the irrigation system

Even if you have drained the water in the irrigation system, some water might still be in there and during the first frost it can freeze, expand and crack the irrigation pipes.

Make sure to drain your irrigation system according to the type of system that you have. If you aren’t sure you might want to contact the company that installed it and have it done for you!

Now that you know what to do, put your gloves on and get to work! And, if you are in the Pittsburgh PA area and need help with it CALL US and we’ll do it for you!