It’s cooling slowly but steadily in Wisconsin. As we move into fall, there is still plenty to do in our yards while the ground is still warm and plants can begin to take root – including adding new shrubs and trees and moving trees around. some of our existing plants.
Melinda Myers is an expert in gardening and the author of numerous books on the subject, including Small Space Gardening and Midwest Gardener’s Handbook. She shares her tips for fall planting.
“For those of us who are procrastinators, this has been a great year to procrastinate with the hot and dry summer, fall is always a good time to plant but especially this year … the soil is warm, l the air is starting to cool – perfect for the gardener. “
While Myers suggests waiting until after fall to remove undersized or troubled areas, fall is always a good time to remove certain plants.
“Once things go to sleep, it’s a good time to do some pruning. I’m a late winter, early spring fan because you know if there have been any winter damage or if animals have nibbled. You can take care of correcting that, see what’s going on left and make your size, â€Myers explains.
Myers also says fall can be a good time to stock up before winter sets in. She points out that many garden centers restock their nurseries during this time with a lot of variety.
“We look at our landscape thinking, ‘oh there’s an empty place out there, I wish I had more shade or color in that corner.’ And so it’s a good time because the season is still so fresh on our minds It’s happening that you know where you want to add, so it’s a good time from a weather point of view, as well as planning and implementation, â€Myers says.