There are still many things that need to be done in the garden to prepare for winter.

~ Bring tender bulbs inside after they have been affected by a killing frost. Tender bulbs are those bulbs that are not hardy enough to withstand our cold northern winters. If left outdoors they will die, so the bulbs need to be brought indoors over the winter and replanted next spring. Tender bulbs include Dahlias, Tuberous Begonia, Call and Canna lilies, and Gladiolus.

~ Geraniums and Fuchsias should be brought indoors if you plan on keeping them for next year. Before bringing them indoors spray them with an insecticidal soap so that unwanted pests won’t harm your indoor house plants. Don’t forget to bring your houseplants indoors too, if you had them outside for the summer.

~ Perennials can be trimmed back, after they have been affected by a killing frost. Some perennials add winter interest to the landscape and these can be cleaned up next spring. Cut perennials back to 15 cm. This will allow the remaining stems to catch the snow (a good winter insulator) as well as making it easier to find the perennial next spring.

~ Perennials such as iris, peony and lilies can be dug up and divided now. If there were fewer and smaller flowers on the lilies, or the irises are dying out in the centre, this is a sign of overcrowding. These perennials need to be dug up, divided, and replanted. September is a better time to move and divide peonies. Peonies can be left in the ground for many years, but when they outgrow their spot, or you want to have more plants, this is the time to do it.

~ Roses should be cut back. Cut half of the new growth off now and leave the rest of the pruning to next spring. Extra mulch such as peat moss, disease free leaves, sand, etc can be placed around the base of the plant for extra protection. To overwinter roses that are not hardy for our area, extra care is needed. Wrap the rose with burlap or cover the plant with a rose hut, specifically made for this reason.

~ Clean up the annuals after the killing frost. They can be tossed in the compost if they were healthy. Never put diseased plants in the compost, because you don’t want the disease to spread.

~ Keep up on the weeding. The last thing you want to deal with next spring is a yard full of weeds. Many weeds overwinter and produce seeds that overwinter.

~ Apply fall fertilizer (6-3-12) to the lawn to strengthen it for the winter. You want to use a fertilizer with a high last number (potash) and a lower first and second number.

~ Newly planted trees and shrubs can be fertilized with 0-0-50 to help them through the winter. Newly planted trees should be staked to prevent them from being damaged during high winds.

~ Keep up on the water, around trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs. Soil should be moist before the frost sets into the ground.

~ Clean up the vegetable garden and make notes of what was planted where, so that next spring you can practice crop rotation.

-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres in Prince George:

• Highway 16 West at Kimball Road
• Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulpmill Road