In autumn, life on a personal plot plays with other colors. After all, the owner needs to have time to redo a lot of things, and special attention should be paid to preparing the flower garden for winter.
Digging and planting bulbous plants
Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses are frost-resistant bulbous flowers. It is recommended to plant these plants in October, when the air temperature drops below +10 degrees. At high rates, early growth and death of the flower occurs. For planting, choose dense and intact bulbs. Plants planted in the autumn months will delight you with lush greenery and bright flowering in the new season.
Tubers of heat-loving plants left in the soil can die at the first frost. Gladioli, dahlias and callas are dug up at the end of September or October. Before digging, some activities are carried out:
- at the end of August, fertilizing is completed;
- reduce watering to a minimum;
- cut off all flower stalks.
Such procedures will allow the bulbs to gain strength and accumulate nutrients.
After digging, the tubers are dried, treated with preparations and stored in a cool place until spring arrives.
Soil disinfection
During the spring-summer period, pathogenic flora and larvae of insect pests accumulate in the upper layers of the soil. To prevent disease and death of plants, it is recommended to disinfect the soil.
You can disinfect the soil using special preparations: “Fitosporin”, “Copper sulfate”, “Farmayod”, “Baikal M1”. The soil is dug up 2-3 weeks before the first frost and spilled with solutions.
Pruning and covering perennials
Pruning and covering perennials is an important activity that needs to be done in the fall.
Experienced gardeners recommend pruning plants from the beginning of September to the end of November, provided that the weather is dry and sunny. First of all, dry flowers and buds, damaged and diseased branches, as well as shoots older than 3 years are removed. Then the thickening branches and shoots are cut off, and finally the cut areas are treated with garden varnish.
And in mid-November, after the onset of persistent cold weather, it is necessary to begin covering the plants. For these purposes, you can use dry leaves, spruce branches, sand or sawdust.
Timely pruning and covering of perennials will help them survive the winter and gain strength before the new season.
Fertilizing the soil
During the active growth of flowers, the soil is depleted and loses nutrients. Autumn is a wonderful time to restore fertility. After digging up bulbous plants and pruning perennials, it is recommended to dig up the soil of the flower garden to a depth of 15–20 cm and evenly add mineral and organic substances. Among them are the following:
- chicken droppings or manure;
- wood ash;
- compost;
- phosphorus and potassium preparations.
The choice of fertilizer depends on the plants growing in the flowerbed. So, superphosphate or ash is suitable for roses; hydrangeas prefer potassium sulfate.
Sowing annuals
Annuals tolerate sowing before winter and delight with rich flowering in the spring. Wells for sowing and substrate are prepared in advance. After the onset of negative temperatures, the seeds are scattered in a thick layer and sprinkled with prepared soil.
Asters, calendula, delphinium, phlox and cornflowers are suitable for sowing in autumn.
Lawn preparation
Preparing the lawn for winter is another activity that flower garden owners should undertake. The lawn must be cleared of excess leaves, trimmed to a height of 5–7 cm and potassium-phosphorus fertilizers applied.
Timely work in the flower garden will help the plants survive the winter favorably, and in the new season they will delight you with bright colors.
