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Fall is a great time for renovating an existing
garden or starting a new one. Fall planting of
perennials and shrubs should be completed six weeks
before the ground freezes. In St. Louis that date
can be as early as December 15th, so planting
should be completed by mid October.
That gives us plenty of time to make a plan and put
it into action. Just think what a thrill it will be
in the Spring to have beautiful flowering trees and
shrubs, perennial flowers and those bulbs you've
always wanted.
To get started, identify the area you want to
renovate. Make a scale drawing of your garden
including sidewalks, fences, existing trees, shrubs
and other plants.
Think about how your new garden will be used and
who will maintain it. Identify views that would be
better screened by a small tree or shrub. Cut
pictures out of magazines that reflect your style
and ideas, or take photographs of gardens in your
neighborhood that you like.
Knowing how much sun and moisture your garden
receives, and identifying plants that thrive in
those conditions will be key to your success. Visit
your local nursery or call in an expert to help you
identify the plants that will thrive in your
environment. When choosing plants for your design,
consider mature size and height, color of flower
and foliage, and bloom time. If chosen carefully
you can ensure successive bloom in your garden from
early spring until late fall.
Evaluate the condition of your sidewalks and fence,
and replace or modify if needed. Remove overgrown
and unhealthy trees and shrubs, sod and unwanted
plants. Move plants you are keeping to a temporary
spot elsewhere in the garden, a plastic pot or a
large tarp. Keep them watered and out of the hot
sun.
Once you get the big stuff done, its time to prep
your soil. Rich soil with lots of organic material
will provide plants with the nutrients they need.
Amend existing soil with organic material such as
compost and leaf mulch. Add enough amendments to
form a raised bed. Raised beds provide excellent
drainage, another important factor to a successful
garden.
Choose plants carefully. Start out with healthy
plants from a reliable source. On planting day,
arrange plants in the garden area according to your
design, make changes if necessary. After planting,
apply three inches of shredded hardwood mulch.
Mulch helps hold in moisture, controls weeds and
keeps soil at a consistent temperature as we move
in to cooler weather. In addition, when organic
mulch breaks down, it provides nutrients plants
need for growth. Water plants after mulching. Keep
soil moist during the first few weeks providing
approximately one inch of water or rain per week
until the ground freezes.
Now sit back and relax. When Spring arrives, your
garden will burst into life for many seasons of
enjoyment.
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