Transform your garden this fall
With milder temperatures making outdoor activities more enjoyable and leaves showing off their vibrant hues, fall is the perfect opportunity to nurture your garden and prepare it for the seasons ahead. Whether you're planting new bulbs, adding trees or shrubs, pruning perennials or creating space for wildlife, Shawnee County Master Gardeners will teach you how to enhance the health and beauty of your garden. Read on for expert tips, upcoming events and books to help you make the most of your fall gardening.
Brighten your spring
For early pops of color next spring, now is the time to plant many bulbs – tulips, daffodils, crocus and hyacinths. Bulbs like these need to have their roots established and go through a chilling period for the most blooms possible. Generally, these bulbs are planted twice as deep as they are tall, so you'll plant a two-and-a-half-inch tall tulip bulb about 5 inches deep.
Master Gardener Alice Ann Oliver will talk about bulb selection and planting, and share variety recommendations Thu, Sept 12, 7pm, Marvin C. If you want to read more about planting bulbs I recommend Bulbs by Stephanie Mahon and The Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing Bulbs by Richard Wilford.
New trees & shrubs
Fall is also a great time to plant new trees and shrubs. With warm, moist soils and mild temperatures, tree roots establish quickly. When you give them a few extra months for the root system to grow into the surrounding soil, trees and shrubs can better handle summer temperatures and dry periods. Another factor that affects the success or failure of a new tree is selecting the best tree possible for the location, both the species and specimen.
Master Gardener Sharon Buscher will talk about the best trees for northeast Kansas, the characteristics to look for at the nursery, and best practices of tree care at Ornamental Trees Selection and Care, Thu, Oct 10, 7pm, Marvin C. The Homeowner's Complete Tree & Shrub Handbook by Penelope O’Sullivan is an excellent companion to this presentation.
Attracting wildlife
While plants are a large piece of having a garden, animals help make a garden feel complete. Master Gardener Caroline Seals will talk about ways to attract wildlife and provide them with shelter and other basic needs on Thu, Nov 14, 7pm, Marvin C. Take a look at The Ultimate Wildlife Habitat Garden by Stacy Tornio to learn more.
More fall gardening
Many landscape plants that bloom in spring and early summer, like daylilies, peonies and hostas, prefer to be divided in the fall. These plants need to be divided and replanted 4-6 weeks before the first frost, which for the Topeka area is mid to late October. Dividing these perennials also gives you the opportunity to share your garden favorites with friends and family!
I invite you to call the Shawnee County Extension Office about any gardening questions. Through the end of September, the Master Gardeners are staffing the Response Line, a free service that can diagnose your issues and provide you with research-based information to solve your gardening problems. Call 785-232-0062, come into the office, 1740 SW Western Ave, or use our new online question submission form.
The library hosts a Learning from Shawnee County Master Gardeners presentation at 7pm on the second Thursday of every month. Check our event calendar for presentation topics.
Guest Writer: Lane Wiens
Shawnee County Horticulture Extension Agent
