no rain in sight

Fall Watering

Some of you have been asking "Do I still need to water my plants?" and the answer is yes! Fall is a wonderful time to transplant or install new plants due to cooler temperatures which results in less watering. Unfortunately the majority of Iowa is still in a major drought and plants still need water. Though plants look "dead" right now, they are actively growing underground. All the energy plants made throughout the summer months is now being transported down to the roots to make more roots. If there is no water it can stress the plant out and cause them to struggle throughout the winter. If you had any new trees, shrubs, or perennials installed this year, it's still a good idea to give those plants water once every couple of weeks. Be sure to do this until the ground starts to freeze. This extra water will ensure the plants have enough to get through those cold winter months.

Let your garden sleep

The Importance of Leaving the Leaves

Like most of us when fall comes around we want to tidy our gardens and get them ready for the cold winter months, but don't grab those clippers and rakes too soon. Many of our pollinators hibernate in the leaf litter and lay their eggs in the stems of plants. So instead of bagging/shredding all those leaves, simply rake them into your gardens. Leaf litter makes for good compost for your garden. It helps add nutrients back to your soil. If you really want to cut back perennials, cut stems to about 12-18 inches off the ground to allow pollinators to still lay their eggs in the stems. Once cut simply place them on the ground to add extra protection for the hibernating bees.

Do you have coneflowers with the spent flower heads on top? It's ok to leave them as a natural food source for the birds. Goldfinches, our state bird, love to eat the seeds of coneflowers. Finally, as winter turns to spring, wait until it is constantly 50+ degrees out before cleaning up the leaves and pruning back perennials. Many pollinators don't start to emerge in the spring until temperatures are just right.