PREPARE FOR WINTER WITHOUT LOSING THE VIEW
OCTOBER Garden To Do Garden To Do
Good landscape design doesn't stop when flowers fade. Think about how the property will look from November through March. Evergreens provide structure and year-round color, while ornamental grasses, interesting bark and persistent seed heads add texture after the last flowers disappear. If you're considering additions to the landscape, fall is a useful time to identify areas that could benefit from more winter interest. Take photographs of the garden before the leaves disappear. They can be useful next spring when deciding where to add bulbs, move perennials or introduce additional layers of height and texture. LOOKING AHEAD The smartest October gardens aren't necessarily the tidiest. They're the ones designed with the next season already in mind. A little preparation now — planting bulbs, caring for new specimens, assessing the lawn and making thoughtful cleanup decisions — can make the transition to spring easier. By leaving some stems, seed heads and natural texture in place, the landscape can remain attractive and provide habitat long after the last flowers have faded. For Rhode Island gardeners, October isn't the end of the gardening year. It's an opportunity to set the stage for what comes next.
• Plant spring bulbs: Get daffodils, tulips, crocuses and other spring-flowering bulbs in the ground while conditions remain suitable. • Establish new plantings: Fall can be a suitable time to plant certain trees and shrubs. Keep new specimens watered during dry periods as they become established. • Assess the lawn: If you missed the preferred late-summer or early-fall reseeding window, make note of thin areas and plan repairs for next year's growing season. • Clean selectively: Remove diseased or invasive plant material, but consider leaving healthy stems, seed heads and some leaf litter to provide winter habitat for wildlife and shelter for overwintering insects. • Refresh mulch: Replace depleted mulch where needed, but keep it away from tree trunks and woody stems. • Protect tender plants: Bring vulnerable con- tainers indoors or move sensitive specimens to a sheltered location before hard freezes. • Save seeds: Collect mature, dry seeds from suitable plants and label them for next year's garden. • Plan ahead: Photograph the landscape and make notes about areas that could use more spring color, year-round structure or additional planting.
DISCOVER RHODE ISLAND 50
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