That’s a Wrap! - Fall tips to close the gardening season and set-up a successful one in 2022

By: - Franz Witte 

The beautiful colors of fall have finally arrived
and are painting a kaleidoscope of color
across the Treasure Valley. This seasonal
display accompanied by cooler nights and
shorter days indicates that winter is growing
ever closer. While this year's gardens were
beautiful and productive, it's been a long
hot one and the cooler weather and shorter
days bring a rest and transition that is so
very welcome. Whether you've been working your beds for years or are new to gardening, what follows should help clarify some questions you may have, or simply reinforce the plans you've already made.
 
There can be a lot to consider and at times it may feel like there is more to do than one can get done in the relatively short fall season we have in the Treasure Valley. Don't be overwhelmed; there are a few things that should be done, and many, many others that can be caught up in the spring if needed.
 
Keep Things Clean
The most important activities are centered around cleaning things up. Putting our gardens and landscapes to bed for the winter in a clean and tidy condition contributes to a healthy, vibrant garden in the spring. Start with cutting back certain perennials and cleaning up any leaves from diseased plants. A good example would be with Peonies; if you have these, they should be cut back to the soil level and all leaf debris should be disposed of, not composted. While Roses are more characteristic of shrubs, they too benefit from a light pruning in the fall, and thorough leaf clean-up to prevent perpetuating any disease present into the upcoming season. A more thorough and complete pruning will be done on these plants in the early spring, after danger of coldest weather has passed. For more in-depth guidance on roses see our blog post here.

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