Home Gardening

Fall is a busy time to keep things in shape
Mississippi Gardens Newspaper and Web Column - October 27, 2003

Cool weather and the return to regular clock time let me know that fall has truly arrived. This time of year, there are a few things to do to keep our lawns, landscapes and gardens in top shape. It's also a fabulous time for planting woody ornamental shrubs to get them off to a less stressful start.

The best time of year to plant most shrubs and trees is in the fall. However, the only way they are available now is as container plants. Installing containerized woody ornamentals now allows your new plants to take advantage of ideal growing conditions while becoming established. Roots will continue to grow because the soil is warm but top growth slows because air temperatures are cooling off. Fall planted trees and shrubs benefit from winter rains as well. .

Established trees and shrubs may be pruned if needed to remove dead, dying or diseased wood. Remember, not to prune healthy branches and stems of spring blooming trees and shrubs (i.e. azaleas, dogwood, redbud) at this time since precious flower buds are lost with each snip.

It is the season for planting a wide array of bulbs for those gorgeous spring flowers. While the soil is still warm we can divide and transplant perennials that may be getting crowded. The fall vegetable garden is now the source of fresh broccoli and delicious onions or Chinese cabbage! It seems that there are always opportunities, regardless of the season for Mississippi gardeners to enjoy the outdoors.

Winter annual beauties like pansies, panolas and snapdragons should be planted in late October and November. Setting the transplants into prepared soil this month allows them to establish a good root system before cold weather sets in. When warmer weather comes in early spring they will be ready to take off. Delphinium transplants may be set this time of year along with seeds of bachelor button (Centaurea cyanus) and larkspur. These will flower in April and early May. Combine these with snapdragon for a cut flower garden.

Pre-emergent herbicides may be used to control weeds in some annual flower plantings. One type that can be used for annual beds has trifluralin as the active ingredient. Be sure to check the label for a complete list of tolerant plants. Pre-emergent herbicides can help reduce infestation of winter annual weeds in the flower garden and home lawn. (Please follow all label directions.)

Fall is also a good time for maintenance of established perennials. After the long summer, perennials may have ragged leaves. Use this time to prune the old foliage and rake debris from around the base of the plant. Reapply fresh mulch to insulate roots from harsh winter temperatures. Removal of old leaves and stems now may also reduce disease development next spring. Perennials may get overcrowded or grow into areas where they are not wanted. This is the time to deal with both of these situations by digging, dividing and relocating if needed. Fertilization is not necessary at this time.

Happy Gardening!

Publications may download photograph at 200 d.p.i.

These archived columns were written by Kerry Johnson, a hobby gardener, former weekly newspaper columnist and an Area Extension Horticulture Agent for 11 coastal counties in Mississippi.