Robyn Stewart
When I bought my house last fall, there were a few major projects in landscaping that we tackled. First and foremost, we tore out several trees and gardens, and also pruned all the lorapetalum around the property. This summer, we actually wound up cutting back the lorapetalum and tearing out all of the remaining vegetation in my garden beds. As we head into fall and cooler weather, I am working on cleaning up those beds and getting my new plants in the ground before winter. Whether you need to completely renovate some garden beds, or if you just have some maintenance to do, there are several things to think about when it comes to fall landscaping.
Autumn is a great season for landscape projects. We often recommend planting new trees, shrubs, and ornamentals in the fall season because the cooler temperatures and increased rainfall helps root development and combats transplant shock. Transplant shock is also reduced because the plants are heading into their winter dormancy. Fall planting allows for the tree or shrub to grow and become established before the stress of our hot, dry summer weather.
For existing plants, now is the time to divide and prune. Many perennials like lilies, hostas, and iris can be divided and replanted so they can establish themselves before winter dormancy hits. Early in the fall, many pants such as azaleas, camellias, and others, can be lightly pruned. However, pruning too aggressively or too late can encourage new growth that will then be damaged by winter cold weather.
Fall is also a good time to work on lawn maintenance and renovation. Consider running a soil test on your lawn to determine whether you need to add lime or fertilizer this fall, especially if you have any cool-season grasses like tall fescue. If you only have warm-season grasses like Bermudagrass, you should not add any nitrogen fertilizer this late in the season, as it can damage the grasses if we get an early frost. If you have struggled with winter weeds like poa annua and henbit, you might apply a preemergent weed control product to help manage those. Products with active ingredients prodiamine or pendimethalin should work well. A final thing you might consider for your lawn is whether to overseed. Ryegrass is an option that will add nice greenery to your landscape in winter, but it is very competitive with warm-season grasses. Bermudagrass is the only warm-season grass we recommend overseeding with ryegrass. If you choose to overseed, get your lawn prepared by mowing closer than normal, bagging your clippings each time. You will need to overseed by the middle of October, and the seed needs to be in contact with the soil in order to germinate. Perennial rye is the preferred variety as it has better turf qualities like wear tolerance, fast germination, and color compared to annual varieties. Overseed at a rate of 8-10 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet; and make sure to keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate. Once the Bermudagrass goes dormant in November, fertilize using 2-4 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet.
If you have a home garden, fall chores should focus on cleaning up and preparing for next spring’s planting. Conduct a soil test if needed, and then make sure to clean up any debris and decaying vegetation from the garden. Excess dead plants or those with a lot of dieback can be the source of disease and root rot problems next spring. Leaves can be left in the garden to provide natural mulch, but if you choose to remove them, make sure to replace them with some other mulch. Typically 3-5 inches of mulch can protect plant and tree roots from winter temperatures. Lastly, clean, oil, and care for all of your gardening tools and machinery to ensure they will be in good working order when you return to them in the spring.
If you have any questions about agriculture, 4-H, or healthy living, contact the UGA Extension Lincoln County Office at 2080 Rowland-York Rd, 706-359-3233, uge3181@uga.edu.
