Fall Gardeneing

Winter Vegetables

Did you know that you can plant a fall vegetable garden?  Nurseries will have fall and winter vegetable starts this time of year.  You can plant lettuce, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and many others.  Harvest the last your summer vegetables have to offer, and remove the plants.  This would be a good time to amend your soil whether you plan to plant or not.  The amendments will work their way into the soil for next year’s garden. 

When the weather gets colder you can cut your perennials back to a few inches and top with a layer of organic mulch.  It would be good to mulch your entire garden with a couple of inches of decomposed organic matter.  This will help keep weeds down, and insulate the earth from heavy frost.  Keep it away from the trunks of trees and shrubs.  You will want air circulation during the cooler wet weather to help avoid diseases. 

Rake up fallen leaves from your yard.  A pile of wet leaves is the perfect breeding ground for mildew and diseases that will attack the rest of your garden in the spring.  If you don’t have a leave shredder you really don’t need to buy one.  Fill your trash can with the leaves and use your string trimmer to shred your leaves for better composting.

Chrysanthemums

Every nursery will be selling chrysanthemums right now.  If you don’t have any, now is the time to get them.  Look for plants with plenty of unopened buds.  These beauties will get a second bloom but it is not nearly as showy as the first flush of color.  You can use these flowers to decorate your house and front porch by leaving them in the pot, and planting them in the spring.  Make sure you don’t leave them indoors too long, they prefer the outdoors.  Don’t limit yourself to the traditional mums either; there are wide variety of colors and bloom types.  

Fall is the perfect time to plant any of the larger trees and shrubs you have been holding off from planting in the summer.  The cooler weather means less chance of transplant shock, and easier to maintain adequate moisture.  Plus the cooler weather and damp soil should make for easier digging.  I like to choose my trees in the fall so I know what color they will be.  Sometimes the tags on the plants cannot fully capture the color changes the plant will go through.  Ask your local nursery workers for suggestions on color and landscape need.  The wide variety of fall color can suit any size garden in sun or shade.  Learn more about Planting Trees & Shrubs.

The fall is my favorite time to get out and see the wonderful colors nature has in store for us.  Traditionally my wife and I go to Hope Valley near Lake Tahoe, but this year I heard about the Davis Arboretum.  We will still og to Hope Valley, but we will have to compare.  Tahoe has the yellows and browns of the Aspen tree, and if you haven’t seen them you must.  The is probably a plase to view fall color near you, just ask a friend.  The east coast is famous for the fall color they get up north.  Also the Rockies have the wild aspens and birch.  Take a ride to the foothills near your home and explore.  If you can ski there in the winter and swim there in the summer, then chances are it will have beautiful fall color.  Find out more about the Science Behind Fall Color. 

Fall is a great time to have a family portrait taken.  These pictures will make for some great Christmas cards.  Hire a professional or head out with the family for an adventure.  Below is a list of beautiful fall color locations nearby.

1. William Land Park

2. Capitol Park

3. Gibson Ranch County Park and Cherry Island Golf Course

4. American River Parkway

5. Ancil Hoffman Regional Park

6. Effie Yeaw Nature Center

7. Elk Grove Regional Park

8. Cosumnes River Preserve

9. Maidu Park, Roseville

10. Auburn State Recreation Area at Cool