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| Pexels: Richard Fletcher |
The end of summer is approaching and we're already experiencing cooler days and cooler nights. Flashes of yellow are appearing in the Linden tree outside my home office window and I'm busy harvesting the vegetables. Just as we plan next summer's garden during the winter, perhaps even begin seedlings inside while there is snow on the ground outside, we need to begin to prepare our garden spaces for winter as the harvest winds down and we move into fall.
Clear the Space
Any the debris from plants that have displayed signs or symptoms of disease, such as squash plants infected by a powdery mildew fungus or Aspen trees infected with the Marssonina Blight, needs to be removed and disposed of in the garbage rather than the compost bin. The fungus overwinters in plant debris and disposing of the plant material in the garbage can reduce the possibility of an occurrence the following spring and summer.
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| Powdery Mildew on winter squash (Utah State University Extension) |
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| Even though I have the Aspen trees in my yard treated for the Marssonina fungus in the spring, it will still show up on several branches by the end of the summer. Photo: Gregory Engel |
Pruning and Protecting
Trim back perennials to about 2-3 inches above the soil surface. This promotes new growth in the spring. Consult the Colorado Master Gardner GardenNotes #612, "Pruning Cuts" for how and when to prune bushes and trees. A note of caution about lilacs, however, and a lesson I learned the hard way. Lilacs should only be pruned immediately after they're done flowering in the spring. The buds for next year's flowers form right after this year's flowers have finished blooming. Pruning lilacs in the fall removes all the flower buds set to bloom next year!
Know which of your plants will need to be protected from freezing temperatures and animals. The Aspen trees in my yard, for example, attract deer, elk, and rabbits during the winter. To protect them I wrap the base of the tree up to about 4 feet from ground level or surround each tree with sheep fence. This keeps the elk, in particular, from damaging the main trunk. Although they will still chew on the branches. It's a fair trade, in my opinion.
If you have roses, hill up soil around the base of roses and apply a protective mulch layer. I also make sure there is a protective layer of mulch over areas of the garden and yard that have flower bulbs or root systems vulnerable to freezing. Mulching will also help control spring weeds.
Irrigation
In Colorado, it's a safe bet that you'll need to winterize, or "blow out," your lawn irrigation system. According to PlantTalk Colorado, the frost line along Colorado's front range is generally three feet. Every irrigation system I've had to maintain was buried between 6 and 12 inches, so there is every possibility of freeze damage water is left in the system.
Drip systems typically just need the water drained from them. Once upon a time, I used to leave the drip lines in my raised beds to be blown out with the rest of the system. I found that this often resulted in damage to the drip line. My current practice is to detach them, drain them, and store them away for the winter before blowing out the entire system.
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| The peas and spinach (except for a few stragglers) have had their season and I still have a tomato plant with fruit to ripen. But once the tomato is done, I'll pull up the drip lines and stow them away for the winter. |
Tools
I enjoy woodworking and have many fine tools for working with expensive hardwoods. The tools we use in the garden should receive the same care and respect. Clean and store your garden tools such that they are ready for next year’s garden season. Tighten any loose bolts, sharping any cutting edges, and oil any moving parts.
Preparing for Next Spring
The growing season depletes the nutrients in the soil so it's important to add organic matter to garden beds as part of the winterization process. Adding compost, manures, or other slow-release fertilizers can help to rebuild the soil nutrient profile and prepare your garden for spring planting. Regardless the choice, take care not to over till the soil. Tillage upsets the soil tilth and soil microorganisms, thus making the soil more susceptible to compaction and less suitable for supporting plant growth. Over tillage can also lead to weed seeds being distributed throughout the depth of the tilling and result in existing weed seeds being redistributed to the soil surface each time the soil is tilled.
One last thing to note about "winterizing" - it's a verb, an action. Winterizing continues throughout the winter season. It's important to hand water any plants in your yard that need winter irrigation. Colorado winters can be very dry and plants often need additional moisture in order to survive the winter. When you do winter water, be sure to do it during a time of day that will give the water a chance to soak into the soil rather than freeze on the surface.
