Every gardener knows there are always chores to do in the garden...trimming, weeding and mulching to name just a few. There is always something to keep us busy, and if you're like me you love every minute of it! Here are just a few of my gardening chores.
Some of my fall chores include:
Pulling all of the old leaves off of my daylilies. This keeps "critters" out of the clumps.
Trim off all old Blanket Flower foliage. Blanket Flowers grow very well in my garden and I have several types. As you can see they are evergreen.
All Siberian Iris get a "crew cut".
I cut down the old foliage off the Black Eyed Susans and the Coneflowers. However, I do leave some of the seed heads for the birds.
The Shasta Daisies are cut back.
The Asters are cut down to the ground. This one "English Countryside" is already growing back. In fact, it has spread so much that I will be digging out side clumps and sharing them with gardening friends in spring.
And of course the Iris. Believe it or not I removed all the dead leaves in fall. It is important to do this twice a year to help prevent diseases and pests. After the spring clean-up I will cut the leaves in a fan shape. I never remember how many Iris and Daylilies I have until I start trimming them....I have a lot of them!!
Some plants I don't trim until spring because I think they provide winter interest.
These include:
Gaura
Bee Balm
Some plants I don't trim until spring because the old growth helps protect the crowns of the new growth. These include:
Mums
Catmint...This one already has quite a bit of new growth.
Salvia
Another Salvia...(I have several different types). You can see the new growth on this one.
Russian Sage. This will be cut down to about three inches in spring.
Spring chores include:
Giving the Crepe Myrtles a nice trim and removing the spent flowers. Since they bloom on new wood this will increase the summer's flower production.
Trimming the Butterfly Bushes to about two - three feet. This will promote strong new growth for good flowering.
These are just a few of my chores. Once spring arrives I will begin spending 5-6 hours a day, 5-7 days a week in my garden. Have a mentioned that I LOVE gardening!
Happy Gardening!
Words and Photos Property of Christy's Cottage Wildlife Garden.
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ReplyDeleteHi, Christy! I enjoyed your post. You are a gardener after my own heart! Happy gardening!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!! It's so nice to "meet" gardeners that have a passion for gardening like me!
DeleteIt looks like it is working Christy. Love your chores. You are always so busy in the garden. Can you share some of that aster with me pretty please?
ReplyDeleteYou know I will!! Yes, I am a busy, busy bee!!
DeleteAs you, some old gets plucked in the Fall and some stays for winter. I like to leave a lot for the birds to hide out as well as nibble the seed. Then I have a LOT to clean up in the Spring. It seems I get a great burst of energy in spring so I enjoy all the work, okay, play...
ReplyDeleteFunny how we get that burst of energy isn't it! Good thing too because there's so much to do.
DeleteYou have a spring in January? Oh God I'm so jealous!!! :)
ReplyDeleteWellcome on my blog to see our January)
Hi! No, spring doesn't officially start until about March 20th. However, I consider March 1st as my official start of spring and that's when I really start getting out into the garden. There is always LOTS to do!
DeleteHeh, lucky you! There's nothing to do in our garden in March :)
DeleteWhen is the weather good enough for you to start getting out into the garden?
DeleteEvery spring is different!
DeleteSometimes we see the ground by 20 April, sometimes we have snow in 5 May.
So it's hard to say exactly
Well yes. Though this post made me feel a little guilty in reminder of all the "chores" I didn't get accomplished this fall. Perhaps if I though of them more as a "labor of love" like I do in the spring the cleanup might get done....:)
ReplyDeleteWell, one thing about gardening....if you don't do the "chores" in fall, they will still be there in spring. There's always something to do!
DeleteI have been gardening for many years, but always learn new things. Oh, and I forget some things and need to relearn them. I used to cut most things back in the fall, but now, probably leave too many things until spring. I think I remember Gail from Clay and Limestone, who said asters should always be cut back in the fall. (You have found her, haven't you? She lives in Tennessee, also.) It was good to read your information. When I'm able to, I'll cut the asters back first, and pull out the dead leaves from the daylilies.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue....One thing about gardening...I learn new stuff almost every day. One of the most important things I learned recently was not to cut back my Hydrangea...I kept cutting it back and then wondering why it wasn't blooming. Then I found out it blooms on old wood.....problem solved and now it has wonderful blooms!! Live and learn!! Yes, I do follow Gail's blog...I actually met her at a Perennial Plant Society meeting once!
DeleteI just found your blog today from Tootsie Time. Like me you keep blogging in the winter, a true sign that you can't stop thinking about the garden. I will be back to learn more about your enormous gardens later!.
ReplyDeleteHi D_Y.....I'm so glad you found my blog! Yes, I absolutely love gardening and think of it year round. Please make sure and stop back to see the Big Surprise coming in spring!
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