From Fall to Freezing Temperatures

It was a good summer. I traveled out of the country, published a book, had friends visit from all corners of the globe, and got to spend a great deal of time in my garden.

I find that I relax the best while I garden. This year saw a great crop of tomatoes, grapes, peppers, cucumbers, and much more. This was also a banner year for flowers in my garden.

I believe that my garden beds, and lawn, looked their best in the 10 years I have lived in my current home. Simply a colorful year with my flowers, and the grass was as weed free as it has ever been. Along with this, I had the largest amount of birds visit my feeders throughout the summer, as well.

Now, a bumper crop of veggies and fruits, great looking flowers, and green green grass did not happen all by itself. No, indeed, it happened because of a lot of planning beforehand.

Each fall, winter, and spring, I put a great deal of time into my garden, working long hours in the colorful autumn afternoons, cold winter winds, and wet days of spring. Yet, I am rewarded with wonderful results. It is most certainly worth the toil, sweat, and dirty fingernails.

With the quick approach of fall winging its way to our central Georgia calendars, there are some chores that can be attended to in each of our gardens.

To begin with, sweet potatoes can be harvested in another month. Give them a little bit more time. Continue harvesting any tomatoes and other veggies you might have growing. Any and all old and dying plants should be removed. Mulch the beds with straw, grass clippings, or chopped leaves. This is also a good time to plant broccoli, lettuce, greens, turnips, beets, and even carrots in your beds. Make sure your soil is amended with good nutrients, and that the soil is also loose, and not hard and solid from a hot summer’s heat.

Also, make sure you clean up any old fruit which might be rotting under trees, as it can be a wonderful place for pests to sleep over winter, attacking your fruit next year.

Your lawn needs to be attended to, as well, if you want to have it looking its best for the fall and winter. This is now the time to put a pre-emergent on your summer grass. A pre-emergent will help to prevent winter weeds that can pop up and make your lawn look most unattractive as you wait for it to green up again next spring. Don’t wait until the lawn goes dormant for the winter, apply it now, as winter weeds will go to seed soon.

Clean pots and containers and bring them into a sheltered and warmer location over the winter. Even though Georgia winters do not get that cold, your pots will crack if there is a cold frost or freezing temperatures.

With a little bit of work now, your garden will be not only much easier next spring, but also much prettier and more productive next year, as well. Enjoy!