It ain’t over until it’s over: gardening tips for autumn

WELLINGTON COUNTY – The days are getting shorter, leaves are turning colour, and while it’s arguably the best time of the year for working outdoors, it’s also kind of sad for gardeners as the season draws to a close.

But there are still things you can plant now for blooms in the spring and interest throughout the winter.

According to Little Tree Garden Market’s website, September is a great time to plant evergreens.

These are the trees and shrubs that hold their leaves through the winter. 

And planting now gives them time to establish their roots before the big freeze sets in.

Suggested varieties include:

– shrubs such as Euonymus and Camellia; and

– trees including Bay, Olive, and evergreen Magnolia.

If you’ll be looking for cut flowers next summer, sow some seeds now. 

Suggested seeds include wildflower, cornflower and poppies.

And then there are bulbs, which is a large category. 

They bloom in spring but must be planted in the fall, with the exception of tulips, that could be planted as late as mid-December if the ground isn’t frozen by then.

Bulbs to consider include daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, allium, tulips muscari, ranunculus, iris, snowdrops, winter aconite and glory of the snow.

Some perennials can handle fall planting as well. 

Although they might not look like much, they will begin to leaf and bloom when the weather warms up next year.

It’s also a good time to divide perennials you already have.

Plants to consider: peonies, chrysanthemums, zinnias, phlox, coreopsis and salvia.

If you get planting right away, there’s even time for another harvest of spinach, bok choy, lettuce, arugula, beets and kale.

And garlic. Plant garlic in October or November and reap a harvest early next summer.

Landscape Ontario says fall is the time to collect seeds for planting next year and herbs for drying. 

You’ll want to catch herbs before they are hit by frost.

It’s also a great time to amend garden soil by adding compost or manure. 

This can also be done in spring, but if you can get a jump on next season, why not.

Soon we’ll be raking leaves. 

They are great in the composter if you have one. 

Leaves can also be mulched and tucked around tender plants to act as insulation from a harsh winter. 

Autumn is also when we start packing up outdoor furniture and equipment. 

Continue to water trees and shrubs, but soon it will be time to drain and disconnect garden hoses, clear leaves and debris from downspouts and gutters and give your yard a general clean-up.

What you leave out there now is what you’ll be looking at all winter.