Fall LeavesI wanted to set the record straight on a few common fall garden chores. California, especially Central California, is a very specialized and fortunate area to garden. We have long, wonderful growing seasons, pronounced seasons yet not extremely cold winters. We can grow many things here that other parts of the country can only dream of growing. So let’s get started…

DO

1. Summer garden cleanup.

Prune back frost-hardy perennials and shrubs to shape, and only if they look bad. Perennials that are still green are storing energy for next year, so don’t prune leaves off!

Deadheading is a good idea unless you want to leave the seeds for the wild birds. Summer veggies that are done producing should be removed. This is a good time to mulch the bare soil well if you don’t plan on planting a winter garden. If you are planting a winter garden, see #3!

2. Fertilize your lawn Fertilize with a pre-emergent lawn fertilizer like Master Nursery Easy Livin’ Fall or, if you prefer organic, EB Stone Organic Lawn fertilizer. This is also the time of year to drop the height of your lawn mower.

In the winter, you can mow shorter to encourage evaporation and reduce the possibility of diseases like rust. You don’t want to mow too short, however. Not sure how short? Just ask us!

3. Plant your winter garden

The winter garden is so much easier compared to summer. There is less watering, fewer weeds and fewer insects! Winter veggies are different too in that you need to plant successions of crops instead of just one planting and a continuous crop like summer veggies.

For a list of what you can plant in our area, click here. For a list of odds & ends veggies like onions, garlic, etc and when they arrive, click here. 

4. Prune trees

Fall is the best time to remove dead or dying limbs from trees, including fruit trees. This is also when you want to make any necessary cuts to thin or correct the structure. You don’t have to wait until all the leaves drop; however, it makes it easier to see the structure after they do!

5. Dormant Spray Fruit Trees

Once the leaves have fallen from the fruit trees, it is time to spray. Spraying fruit trees with a combination of liquid copper and dormant oil will reduce insects and diseases next season like Peach Leaf Curl. For more information on pruning and dormant spraying fruit tree, click here.

6. Plant your Winter Flowers. If you want color all winter long, now is the time to get your favorite annuals in the ground. We like Pansies or Snaps for the sun and Cyclamen for the shade. For more information, click here.
7. Force Bulbs for the Holidays! You can force Paperwhites and other bulbs for elegant and aromatic display during your holiday functions. For more information, drop by for FREE forcing instructions or click here.
8. Give your Lawn a little TLC. Now that the weather has cooled off, it is time to overseed, replant and fertilize your lawn to repair it and give it a boost for next summer. For more information on this topic, click here.

 

DON’T

Don’t: Prune Ornamental Grasses in Fall

When pruning back ornamental grasses, do not prune them back now. Wait until next spring when new growth begins to push from the crown. Pruning ornamental grasses back in the fall exposes them to colder weather and drying out, resulting in poor growth next year, if any!

Make sure when you do prune them back, do not prune them too far. Depending on the variety, only prune to 4-6″. I know that ornamental grasses can become pretty tattered and shaggy by spring but wait as long as you can. Also, leaving grasses during the winter gives wild birds food, nesting materials, and shelter.

Do not overwater in the winter!

Even if we don’t get rain on a regular basis, the days are shorter and much cooler. On top of that, most plants are not actively growing this time of year, so they don’t use as much water.

You don’t want to reduce the length of watering time, just the frequency. Thorough watering is still important. Containers, hanging baskets, and beds under eaves or patios are exceptions. They will need water more frequently but still much less than 3 months ago.