Fall still has garden tasks

Vibrant foliage isn’t enough to cheer gardeners this time of year as they watch their labors of love shrivel and suffer a crunchy brown death.

But don’t hang up your trowel and become melancholy about your landscape just yet—there’s still plenty to do. It’s a good time to plant bulbs, trees and shrubs for spring and rejuvenate your lawn with seed, fertilizer and aeration.

Instead of bagging leaves for the landfill, Lisa Taranto of Tricycle Gardens in Richmond recommends piling them on your compost heap or grinding them into mulch.

Divide and relocate thick clumps of perennials. Check gardening resources to be sure the variety you’re transplanting is suitable for a fall move.

“Irises and daisies are ready to go,“ Taranto said. “It’s really hard to dissuade them of that urge to grow. They’re so prolific that if you lose a few, it’s no big deal.“

Erica Gilliam, a Henrico County master gardener, said it’s time to do a final weeding, and pull up and compost annuals that have finished flowering.

Don’t ignore your bird feeders. Birds don’t all fly south; species from the north actually migrate to Richmond. Throughout winter, they need food, water and shelter.

“Birds need to eat more calories and higher-fat food so they can metabolize it and make warmth,“ said Meredith Bass, co-owner with her husband, Bruce, of Wild Birds Unlimited in Midlothian and Glen Allen.

Following is a list of fall tasks:

—Bring in houseplants, if you haven’t already, but first check them carefully for insects.
—Add fall plants to your garden. Varieties that will survive low temperatures include chrysanthemums, ornamental cabbage and pansies. Plant garlic and carrots for a spring harvest. Sow larkspur seeds.

—Continue gardening in containers through winter. The standard rule is that the plants should be hardy in two zones colder than your garden. Central Virginia is Zone 7. If they don’t meet that standard, they can be planted in beds before the ground freezes or brought inside to ride out winter. Choose plants that can survive several light frosts. Don’t apply fertilizer, but continue watering containers until the soil freezes.

—Make sure containers can stand up to the elements. Fiberglass, iron, thick plastic and stone work well. Spray terra-cotta vessels with clay sealant.

—Protect roses. After cold temperatures cause foliage to drop, prune the canes back to 36 inches to prevent damage from winter winds. Cover the plant base with at least 8 inches of loose, well-drained soil, mulch or compost. Be sure climbing roses are securely attached to their supports.

—Stop deadheading so blossoms can produce seeds. Crumble the dried flower heads in a container. Separate seeds from the debris and put them in a labeled envelope for spring.

—Plant spring bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and crocus, in compost-rich soil to about three times the depth of their height. Use small stakes to mark where you’ve planted bulbs or late-starting plants to avoid disturbing them when you begin spring soil preparation.

—Prune to stimulate growth on some trees and shrubs. Focus on dead or diseased branches. It’s easier to see those areas before the foliage drops.

—Cut back perennials after the first frost has browned their tops. Apply protective mulch on the perennial garden after the ground has frozen.

—Give the compost pile a good turn before winter sets in.

—Clean tools. Spray them with water or, if necessary, lightly scrub off dirt with a wire brush. Clean wooden handles with water and let them dry. Apply a coat of linseed or tung oil and let it soak in before you store them. Oil moving parts and sharpen blades of pruners and other cutting tools.

—Clean power tools. When it’s time to put your gas-powered equipment away, drain the fuel by letting it run at idle until the engine stops. Send mowers to a dealer for routine maintenance.

—Empty hoses. Drain water from garden hoses, coil and store them in a spot where they won’t freeze.

—Clean out bird houses for species that will be looking for a warm roosting place in winter. Sanitize feeders with a solution of one part bleach to nine parts hot water.

—Fill bird feeders with suet and high-energy nuts and seeds. Continue to put out thistle for finches and freeze-dried mealworms or hull-free sunflower chips for bluebirds and other year-round species.

—Be sure birds have access to fresh water so they can drink and bathe. Bass said birds need to wash body oils off their feathers so they’ll fluff up like a down jacket and retain heat.

—Clean and store, or cover, outdoor furniture.