Late Autumn Garden Checklist

It's been a busy time in the garden preparing for winter. Watch the squirrels and chipmunks scamper through the lawn as they forage for nuts and mushrooms. The chilly New England temperatures arrive soon and the garden needs tending to. These four tips are especially important to have a glorious winter in the garden.

1. Feed your shrubs and trees with a balanced fertilizer. Feeding your larger plants gives them an extra boost of essential nutrients for resilience against the frost and snow. This is a general breakdown of the key ingredients needed in a fall fertilizer.

2. Resist the urge to cut back perennials till spring. Some essential pollinators hibernate in the pithy stems of plants as well as in the soil and under the leaves. Many bees hibernate underground so leaving a protected area for them is essential. Many perennials offer seeds for birds during the cold winter and also provide visual interest.

3. Scatter a generous layer of leaf mold as a natural and free mulch. Do not leave any bare soil exposed to the harsh winter elements . The rotting,shredded leaves break down and feed the soil throughout the winter and also prevent erosion. The integrity of the soil will have more humus, moisture and aeration.

4. Top dress all containers left outside with natural materials such as pinecones, leaf mold or moss. Top dressing containers adds an extra level of insulation for the plants and also adds a decorative touch.

Leaf mold in early spring container

Following these gardening tips will set your garden up for success throughout the New England winter.