Fall cleanup is a must if you want to have beautiful flowerbeds in the spring. Now is the time to check out the mulch you put down last fall or spring. It may need to be topped off to protect your plants during the coming cold months. Now, if you live in parts of the country that have very mild winters or virtually none at all, checking the mulch is still important. In hot climates, mulch helps keep the soil underneath moist and the plants hydrated.
Clean out any trash or old leaves that may have accumulated. These can harbor disease and/or pests. We gardeners have enough trouble with these without inviting them in! If there are dead branches that need to be removed, do that now.
This is a good time to talk about hardiness zones. It is important to know what your climate zone is before you ever go to the nursery or greenhouse to buy plants. Most plant tags have listed the growing zone the plant is suited for. Take my advice and don’t waste your money on plants that are not in your zone. They probably will not survive and you will be disappointed.
Happy gardening!
