Putting the Yard and Garden to Bed
Every year the first frost of the year brings the gardening season to an end, some years sooner than others. While the growing part of the season is done, that doesn’t mean our gardening season is truly over. Here are some things to get done before the first hard freeze of the year.
When cold nights are forecasted, be sure to harvest any tomatoes, peppers and other warm season crops you have growing in your garden. I would even harvest the green tomatoes as they may continue to ripen on your counter if you harvest them before they freeze. You should also harvest any beans or potatoes that you might have planted. If you planted cole crops most of them should tolerate light frosts, however it would not hurt to cover them with frost blanket, a sheet or a regular blanket for nights with a low temperature forecasted of mid 20 degrees. Most of our cole crops can handle temperatures down to 24 degrees with the exception being cauliflower but it is better to be safe than sorry when dealing with cold weather..
Fall is an excellent time of the year to control weeds in your lawn. Next year’s dandelions have germinated and right now, all weeds are moving nutrients into their roots to help them make it through the long winter which means broadleaf herbicides will also be taken to the roots. These young plants are small and easily controlled with herbicides such as 2,4-D or combination products (Trimec, Weed-B-Gon, Weed-Out) that contain 2,4-D, MCPP and Dicamba. Choose a day that is 50 degrees or higher as the better the weed is growing; the more weed killer will be moved from the leaves to the roots. Cold temperatures will slow this process but these products will still work at lower temperatures. The best way to prevent weeds in your lawn is to have a thick healthy stand of grass, but that is a conversation for a different time. It is impossible to control 100% of weeds in the lawn and that is OK!
As we prepare to mow the yard for what is hopefully one of the last times of the year it’s time to think about preparing your lawn mower ready for its long winters break. Be sure to drain the gasoline from gas powered engines or use a gasoline stabilizer to prevent the gas from becoming thick and gummy. Check your spark plug or replace it so you are ready to mow in the spring. If you have a riding lawn mower or one with a battery be sure to remove the battery and clean the terminals to prevent corrosion. Once you have serviced the engine, be sure to check the blades. Dull blades can damage the grass when you cut it and leave a “feathered” look to the ends of the grass blades. As you sharpen the blades check for damage, if you can’t smooth it out, the blades need to be replaced. Grind or file the edge of the blade till it is about 1/32 inch as a razor-sharp edge can actually lead to a poor cut. Clean the blades and the underside of the mower to remove any matted grass.
If you seeded your yard this fall continue to water it to keep the seedlings growing and ensure they are more likely to survive the winter. If we continue to have rain, a mature lawn won’t need much water but we do want to make sure the lawn goes into the winter with moist soil. On warm days continue to water the perennial beds and periodically water your trees and shrubs throughout the winter as needed. Be sure to remove all your hoses from hydrants and drain them prior to Monday night’s cold temperatures. While it will warm back up in just a couple days, lows of 24 degrees could damage the hoses if water is left in them.
