A few frosty nights under our belt have depleted the annuals and perennial weeds. I spent time this weekend cutting weeds back and clearing fallen leaves away from tender trunks of shrubs and trees. By clearing out leaves and debris, we remove hiding places for voles or rabbits and expose them to our local foxes, coyotes, and hawks. I like helping nature.
Supposedly, autumn brings more rain to New England, but not this year. Tuesday’s rain was not enough to make up for weeks of no rain. Continue to water any newly planted shrubs or trees deeply once a week through November. You want plants to have moist soil when we get a hard freeze. When the ground thaws in spring, that water will be available to the plants immediately.
Last week, I talked about blueberries being a good alternative for the burning bush. You might see crimson burning bush escapees in the woods right now, in addition to those gracing older landscapes. The invasive burning bush (Euonymus alatas) displaces native shrubs that native wildlife needs for food and shelter. Massachusetts garden centers are prohibited from selling it. Fothergilla gardenia or Fothergilla x Mt. Airy, both native selections, have brilliant autumn foliage like the native blueberry. Colorful and native alternatives exist!
Tender beans, squash, and tomato plants have been sent to the compost pile, but we are still enjoying Brussels sprouts, onions, arugula, lettuce, and carrots from the vegetable garden. I can keep these plants edible by using landscape cloth and grow tunnels to extend the harvest. Carrots can remain in the garden all winter if mulched under a heavy layer (approximately one foot of straw). Add the mulch now before the soil freezes hard and you can dig the carrots out all winter long. Mark the row with a tall stake in case of snow!
The nice weather of fall—especially in the 50s—has been perfect for raking. I am not a fan of noisy leaf blowers. I meditated and enjoyed the raking exercise, switching sides every few strokes. I formed piles by drawing leaves into the center of periodic circles. As a result, the piles stay relatively small, and we can now gather the leaves onto a large tarp. Then we drag the tarp to a location close to our winter compost pile. This is always easier when the leaves are dry—that is lightweight. We reserve the leaves for composting with food scraps or might also return them to the perennial beds as mulch once we have our hard freeze in December.
I have different types of compost piles. One sits and breaks down slowly. This loose mound contains thick yard waste stems, root balls, and large sticks, as well as leaves. I will put the stems of goldenrod that have gone to seed in this pile. It will break down but slowly, and the seeds will stay out of my other active compost piles. Field mice might root around in this pile, and birds will poke at the pile, but bears, raccoons, and skunks leave it alone.
I also have two enclosed bin-type compost piles for breaking down food scraps. One bin has been providing compost since spring and now it is mostly empty except for some sticks at the bottom.
We use our leaf pile as a carbon additive with each dose of food scraps in our compost year-round. We have been adding food scraps to the other compost bin since last fall. Along with food scraps from the kitchen—coffee grounds, apple peels, vegetable ends—we add dry leaves and depleted potting soil or dead cut flowers. This bin is now full and will rest through the winter. The resting compost should be ready to use by next spring.
To avoid vermin residents in the enclosed compost bins, stir and mix the pile with leaves at each food delivery. By agitating the mix, you discourage mice from making a home in your piles.
At this time of year, with leaves off the trees and shrubs, I can see what branches have broken and need pruning. Prune these now as convenient. While I am out raking the yard or clearing around branches, I keep my pruners on me to quickly remedy any broken branches. This isn’t the time for structural pruning.
Inspect ash for emerald ash borer. Look for D-shaped exit holes in the bark that are about three to four millimeters wide left by adult beetles, usually in Ash tree trunks larger than six inches in diameter. Cracks or blonding patches might also have started to appear. The adult borer lays eggs under the hard outer bark. The eggs hatch and larvae feed on the xylem layer of the tree, destroying its food production. If your trees show symptoms, consult with an arborist. You may need to make a winter plan to remove dead and dangerous trees.
If traditional pumpkins, gourds, and other harvest fruit seem old fashioned, consider interesting and ghoulish houseplants for your future Halloween celebrations. Choose a lethal looking spiky cactus for Halloween décor. Or how about a “Snow White” cactus that seems to be shrouded in ghostly webs?
But if tradition wins, remember your carved pumpkins will attract chipmunks, squirrels, and birds when left outside. After tonight’s festivities, carve up the jack-o-lantern for roasting or deliver to local goats and cattle.
I call myself the Lazy Berkshire Gardener because I don’t want to work too hard in my gardens. I want to enjoy them. I find it easier to observe my landscape and let the compost happen, the water pool up, or daisies to self-sow. I look for ways to do the minimum task for the biggest impact. For example, mulching is better than spraying and much better than weeding all season. I look for beautiful, low-maintenance plants that thrive in or at least tolerate my garden conditions. Plus, I am willing to live with the consequences if I miss something.
