Preparing for the Winter

Fall is here and in most areas the grass is in dormancy for the winter. If you haven't given your garden it’s fall feeding, this is the time to do it.

It is not too early for those in the warmer climates, as using the sugar for a fall feeding does not do the things to grass that chemical fertilizers will do. You have more leeway for getting things like this done.

Strew, by hand, 1 pound sugar per 250 to 300 sq. ft, of lawn and garden. Water it in well. This will bolster those beneficial microbes so they will work on your soil all through the dormant period. Come spring, it should be nice and rich to feed the new growth.

If your iris leaves are brown and lying down, this is the time to cut them off. Leaves should be left on bulb or cornflowers till they die out, as this sends food to the bulbs and corns so they can double themselves and prepare to send up more flowers next spring. They need the food from the dying leaves to nourish themselves.

For those in colder climates, where the roses have stopped producing and the leaves have dropped, now is the time to prune them and mulch them well for the cold weather.  You should not cut off more than 1/3rd of the growth.

In warmer climates, zones 7 and above, it is better to wait until January to prune roses. Pruning them now will stimulate new growth, which will most likely freeze and damage or kill your rose bushes.

If you are in a climate where you are close to your first freeze, now is the time to start acclimating your plants you bring in for the winter. It is better to not shock them by warming them too fast.

November is the month to put in your Tulips and other fall planted bulbs, so they can be in the ground for the winter.

Tulips need some cold to give the vivid colors in the spring.

In warmer climates, you can put them in the vegetable compartment of your fridge for 6 weeks to give them more cold than they will get in the ground. In zones 7 and above, we don't really get cold enough ground temperatures to coax out the strong colors. Even in zone 8 tulips will benefit from a little refrigeration to bring out more color when they bloom.

Bring in your herbs that will not survive the cold outdoors and which you wish a fresh supply of through the winter.

My herbs that I don't want to bring in, but want to have fresh for cooking like, Basil, Oregano, Chives, Marjoram, etc, I strip the leaves off the stems, lay them single layer on a cookie sheet and freeze.

I put the frozen leaves in freezer bags or containers, and as I need them, I take some out, put them in my food chopper and chop them for use. They taste just like the fresh ones, and you save the space taken up by too many potted plants. They can also be dried.

To dry herbs, tie the stems in small bundles and hang in a dark, dry place to dry. You can also dry them in your microwave.

Place a single layer of the herb leaves on a paper towel, cover with another paper towel and microwave for one minute at a time, till they are just dry enough to not mildew, but not so dry they crumble to powder.

Light affects the flavor of herbs, the more light, the weaker the flavor.

If you dry your herbs, they should be stored in colored bottles or containers, to protect them from light. No light at all is even better.

Put fresh sprigs of Rosemary all over in your house to keep the pesky roaches and other insects out of your house.

Put bark mulch around your shrubs to protect them from the winter cold.

Use the fresh herbs you grow in your crafts, making potpourri, etc. You can use fresh herbs, or but the oil of herbs at health food stores and craft stores.

I like to gather pinecones and season them to scent the house with the wonderful smells we associate with fall and the holidays.

You can get clove and cinnamon oil in a health food shop, or at craft stores that sell supplies for making potpourri.

Drop a few drops of the oil on the pinecones and put them in an open bowl or hang them in mesh bags, where they will scent up the house. As the aroma fades some, you can put a few more drops of the oils on them.

If you have a fireplace, make more pinecones and toss one or two in the fire. The aroma will spread as the pinecones burn.

You don't have to use the herb and spice oils.

You can use any scent you like. Put some cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in a few drops of rose oil, or other scented oil. You can create your own scents.

In the health food stores and craft stores, you can get Patchouli, Cedar, Lavender and a variety of oils.  They cost a little, but you only use two or three drops at a time, so those tiny bottles last a long time.

Toss a few sprigs of Lavender, rosemary or a combination of herbs, into the fire. Lavender, Rosemary, Sweet Basil and mint produce a relaxing scent.

If you have grown vines like, Honeysuckle etc, you can cut them down while they are sill green and pliable, weave them into baskets and dry them. You have your own home grown source for basket weaving.

For the December column, I will concentrate on crafts with natural materials, as there is little work to do in the yard in winter.

Think about what you have in your yard, to cut and dry, or weave, to start your holiday decorations.

Drying mums and other flowers you may have still blooming, for centerpieces and/or decorations for your house, or for gifts.

You can get silica Gel at craft stores, to dry flowers and herbs you will use in decorating. Silica Gel is NOT to be used to dry herbs for cooking.

Till next month,
Happy Gardening!
Charlotte

Send questions and comments to:
charlotte34@verizon.net