Now Blooming

September 2006

Fall is an important time for garden development

By Rachel Ezekiel-Fishbein

For many, the advent of autumn means new backpacks, new clothes and new schedules, but fall isn't a time of transition only for school children. It is a transformative season for your garden, as well. Knowing how to make the most of these changes can set the stage for a healthy, vibrant landscape next year.

All summer, your plants have grown up and out, blossoming with flowers and leaves. Now, as the weather cools, they engage in their most important development - building strong roots. You can take advantage of that growth period by thinking about what you saw outside this year - what you liked, what you didn't like, which plants were thriving and what just didn't work for your needs. That is what Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist Brad Baker, president of Wyncote-based landscape design firm Baker Creative, recommends to his clients at this time of year.

"Fall is the time to plant, transplant and divide," says Baker. "The most beautiful gardens are created when homeowners take the time to think about what they want to see and what has changed in the past year. It's a common misconception that gardens are static. Changes in weather cause your garden to grow differently each year, as does the natural life cycle of your plants. As a result, your garden needs to be edited each year and this is the time to do it."

Some questions to ask yourself include: Have any of my shrubs become too large for the spot they occupy? Do my perennials still fit their location, or do they look overgrown and overcrowded? Are there new colors, textures and shapes I'd like to add to my garden? Do I want to use my space differently this year, for example, to accommodate a new hobby or the family's changing recreational needs?

Once you have considered any changes you desire, working with your existing plants may help you save substantially. Perennials like Hostas and Day Lilies divide easily for transplanting into other areas, and planting now will give them the long winter to grow roots. Giving them this strong foundation can significantly reduce the frequency of watering, come spring and summer, and allow them to produce more flower buds.

A shrub that has overstayed its welcome in one spot - perhaps because it is crowding out your walkway or blocking visibility from your entryway - may be just what you seek to define a border of your yard or block an unpleasant view. Transplanting your mature, healthy plant to a new area is an easy way to save and, for many, allows the continued enjoyment of a specimen that holds some sentimental value as well.

Traditionally, bulbs have been planted this month, but Baker cautions against this practice due to the warmer Septembers we have experienced in the region. He holds off until November or December to plant bulbs for his clients, to ensure that growth occurs only below the ground until the spring warming.

Autumn also is when Baker renovates lawns.  "Many landscapers will work on lawns in the spring, simply because that is when their customers are thinking about their lawns' says Baker.  "Unfortunately, the natural growing cycle of grass doesn't adhere to that schedule.   The process you choose for nurturing grass will encourage growth but mostly for weeds, if aerating or dethatching in spring or summer.  It is critical that you encourage the growth of strong grass roots by seeding in early autumn, before leaves fall, and by fertilizing only in November.  You can guarantee the production of strong roots when the plants are naturally putting all growth below the surface due to cooler temperatures and less weed competition."

Once everything is in place for next year, it's the perfect time to visit your favorite garden store and ask about the new oil sprays to protect shrubs and trees from insects. Just as your plants are dormant during the colder months, so are outside pests. Spraying now allows you to eradicate next year's insect population while it is still in its resting stage. Baker recommends the new oils because they are non-toxic to people, pets and plants yet will suffocate many eggs, nymphs, and adult pests.

Baker makes one final suggestion to finish your fall garden renovation - while you're shopping for the oil spray, also take a stroll down the decor aisles of the garden store.

"Each year at this time, I find a host of interesting flower pots that are new to the market.  This is also the time when stores are stocked with autumnal plants with colorful berries, and richly hued dried plants, all of which can be used to create colorful, potted vignettes. My clients are always surprised by the inviting outdoor arrangements I can create in the fall, and pleased when many of them last through the winter. What's more, they can be mirrored by similar arrangements inside. Though the growing season may be past, there is still every reason to fill the exterior and interior spaces of your home with natural beauty that pleases you and beckons visitors."

Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist Brad Baker is president of Baker Creative in Wyncote. To see Baker Creative's work, visit www.bakercreative.com. For more information, call 215-884-4978.

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