The Dos – Do these tasks in Fall

Encourage late blooms Plants that bloom in late summer and autumn, such as asters, Joe Pye weed, and autumn joy seedum, are an important source of food for pollinators. Monarch butterflies, in particular, need nectar to fuel their fall migration.

Leave some seed heads for birds. Leave seed heads on some annuals and perennials, such as sunflowers and coneflowers, to allow birds to feast on the seeds.

Cut back spent perennials. Start tidying up other perennials when all the flowers, foliage, and stems have died back. Trim stems to 1 ½ to 2 feet so that bugs, bees and others can overwinter in hollow stems. (You can cut them lower in the Spring after the temperatures are consistently in the 50’s F and bugs have emerged.) Use permanent labels to mark the location of perennials, so you’ll know what to look for in spring.

Apply compost. Spread a 1″ to 2″ layer of compost under perennials, trees, and shrubs as a slow-release supply of nutrients for roots, so they’re ready for robust growth next spring.

Fall Cleanup Don’ts

Don’t discard fallen leaves. They contain a wealth of nutrients! If you have a scattering of leaves on your lawn, mow over them to break them into small pieces that will decompose quickly. Otherwise, rake and add leaves to your compost pile.

Tidy up — but not too much. Many beneficial insects and pollinators overwinter in fallen leaves, brush piles, and un-mowed areas. Allowing part of your yard to remain a little “wild” will provide important habitat.

For more tips – scroll down at the following link: https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/fall-cleanup/9509.html

And put those fall leaves to work in your garden beds or into a compost pile.  We leave most of the leaves on our garden beds, but the few we do rake up we put behind that garage to turn into the “black gold” that is compost to return to the garden beds after they have broken down.

For more on the use of leaves, go to:

https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/put-fall-leaves-to-work/5402.html