Summer Cleanup…
After the year we’ve had thus far, no one wants to think about winding down from summer. I still want to enjoy sitting on the patio watching the birds and tending to my outdoor tropicals and houseplants…which I choose as my “Zen” space.
If you’re not ready either, start thinking about all the cool (literally) fun fall plants and attractive extras you get to decorate with! Cornstalks, whimsical grasses, pumpkins, straw bales, pumpkins (real AND metal), gourds, fall wreaths, mums and millet…and so many more great fall items. It’s always refreshing to add that touch of fall color to the porch and garden after summer’s bright cheerful colors have dulled. It’s as if you’re adding a new life to your home!
Before re-decorating though, you need to get your yards and gardens cleaned up and ready for a fresh new season. Being prepared for these seasonal changes will put you way ahead of your neighbors and have your home looking in tip-top shape for every new season!
- Remove any dead or diseased plant from your garden. Dead plants go into the compost, while diseased plants go into a bag in the trash, never in the compost or your local dump.
- Save seeds from the plants that performed well for you this year. Put them into an envelope, label the contents, and add a date. Keep in a dry place over the winter.
- Take cuttings of your favorite plants like coleus and geraniums to root for next year’s garden. Some people prefer either soil or water rooting, so give each a try. Herbein’s carries rooting hormone in liquid and powder form.
- Eat up your veggie garden harvest. Some ideas for your excess harvest are to start canning, preserving, and freezing the crops you can’t eat or give away to family and friends. Our local food shelters are always interested in fresh produce.
- Dry herbs so you can use them over the winter. Good choices are thyme, rosemary, basil, lavender, and chives.
- Clean out your flower pots. Old soil can go into the compost pile. Sometimes older soils tend to harbor unwanted pests and diseases so be cautious if you plan to reuse from one year to the next. Not to mention, you might find an unfamiliar flower popping up next year in this soil, compliments of your friendly birds.
- Weed your gardens and give your mulch a good fluff.
GET READY FOR WARM APPLE CIDER!