Fall in Toronto is a beautiful time of year. This year is no exception! It’s a feast for the eyes with leaves turning red, gold and bronze hues. While enjoying the season, consider these simple fall gardening tips to prepare your yard either for the upcoming winter and next spring or for getting your home ready for the Fall market.
- Grass: Although a carpet of leaves is part of Fall’s glory, don’t let them sit too long. Rake them frequently as grass needs oxygen and sunlight for proper growth. This is also the time to seed your grass for a thick lush lawn in the spring, and to keep pesky weeds out.
- Leaves: Put leaves to work! Small leaves from birch, beech and silver maple trees (or shredded larger leaves) spread under shrubs and over soil will degrade into mineral nutrients and worms will turn them into fertilizer.
- Pruning/Re-arranging Plants: Pruning in the Fall is important. With leaves cleared you have a better view of your plants. Cut off dead and diseased branches. Remove diseased leaves from under roses (blackspot) and dispose of in the garbage (not your compost heap) or they’ll re-infect plants the following spring. If you decide to re-arrange plants or shrubs, move them while the earth is still warm so that the roots can take hold. Protect delicate shrubs with burlap.
- Bulbs: If you want to see crocus, tulips and daffodils peeping through the soil in spring, now is the time to start planting. Buy the very best quality bulbs and you will be rewarded with showy blooms in the spring. Check with a local horticulturalist for native bulb options and ideal planting conditions.
- Container Gardening: Fill your balcony or patio containers with Fall flowers. This is a great way to keep your yard looking attractive- especially for potential buyers. Try a pot filled with Vanilla Butterfly (marguerite daisy), with a background of Orange Sedge – this olive green grass turns orange in cool weather, finally fading to bronze. Or try something simple like ornamental Kale (winter cabbage), its quirky look is an attention-getter.