– New Mexico’s Premier Landscaping Company since 1981 !
6 Ways to get your garden and yard fall-ready!
Though some folks say Labor Day marks the “end of summer”, that’s certainly not true here in NM. Here are some tips for caring for your outdoor space:
(1) Divide perennials– now is a great time to dig and divide summer-blooming perennials (such as hostas, Oriental poppy, lily, daylily, ornamental greases and bearded iris). Use a spade to lift the plant from the ground being careful not to damage the root ball. When the clump is out of the ground, use a large garden knife or spade to cut into smaller pieces. Then replant the smaller pieces ASAP. Tip: some perennial flowers tend to die out in the center. When dividing these, cut around the centers and toss the dead tissue.
(2) Add fall color- give your flower border a late-summer injection of color by adding a generous helping of chrysanthemums (garden mums). Chrysanthemums go well with any garden décor and are available in many colors, shapes and flower forms. Mix single and double-flowering varieties with asters, pansies and other fall bloomers.
(3) Wage a war on weeds– now is the time to finally get busy with weeding because as the growing season winds down, both annual and perennial weeds begin to produce thousands of seeds that will germinate in your garden next spring. The best time to weed is right after a rain when the soil is moist. Be certain to remove the roots and after they’ve been removed, cover the area with a thick mulch of compost, straw, leaves or shredded bark. Tip: to remove pesky tumbleweeds, after it rains, simply roll the tumbleweed and keep rolling until it snaps out of the ground.
(4) Plant perennials and shrubs– between now and when we turn the clocks back in early November is one of the best times of year to plant perennials and flowering shrubs (hydrangeas, daylilies, lilies, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths). They’ll take root during the cool, moist fall weather and be ready to pop into bloom next spring and summer. Keep your new plants well-watered if the weather is hot and dry. Mulching the beds also helps preserve soil moisture.
(5) Water evergreens– rain is scarce here in NM so keep evergreen trees and shrubs hydrated. By watering evergreens now, they will have plenty of soil moisture around their roots before freezing temperatures make irrigation impossible. Newly planted evergreens are particularly susceptible to dry soil so make sure they receive at least an inch of water a week.
(6) Fertilize, fertilize, fertilize– autumn is the best and most important time to fertilize your lawn because fall’s morning dew delivers moisture to help turf absorb fertilizer, the grass has a chance to build stamina before a chilly winter, and supporting root growth in the fall leads to a healthier, greener lawn in the spring. Also, seed or re-seed any bare patches now as this is a better time than spring. Weather conditions going into autumn favor growth of grass, especially growth of their roots.
Need assistance with any of the above? We can help! Call WaterQuest today at #505-792-3600 to schedule an appointment to get your garden/lawn/yard ready for autumn.