By: Lisa Briggs | Thursday, October 22nd, 2020

At long last. It’s time to take a deep breath because the physical work and often frenetic pace of the growing season is over. Not having a million things to accomplish in the garden may find some folks feeling a bit bereft, but many others are so happy. The Garden Center is emptying of plant material and stocking up on holiday decor. Plants are lined up, ready for frost blankets and mulch piles. All of us here have such mixed emotions about the end of the outdoor gardening season. What about you?

Lots of gardeners put their houseplants outside for the summer. They grow like crazy and are much easier to care for. By now, you’ve brought them back inside, inspected them for bugs, and arranged them according to light level requirements. With shorter day lengths and the inevitable cloudy days of late fall and early winter, your plants won’t be using as much water. Be sure to check the soil before watering. Always water thoroughly, but then let the soil dry before watering again. A moisture meter can be a good investment if you are an over-waterer. Cut back on fertilizer too, especially for foliage plants. Don’t be alarmed if some leaves begin to yellow and fall off the plants. In fact, you should expect some leaf loss as your plants re-adjust to indoor living.

For winter bloomers like orchids, cyclamen, and Christmas cacti, now is the time to be using a bloom boosting fertilizer. Orchids especially are often grown in a bark mixture, which doesn’t retain nutrients very well, so start following a regular feeding schedule. We like water, water, fertilize. You’ll reap the benefits in January and February when flower spikes appear like magic.

Keep checking for insect pests. Observation is the key to catching problems early when they are still treatable. Bond with your plants, looking at them often and doing weekly inspections. They’ll reward your efforts with less maintenance time. Some people play music for their houseplants, talk to them, and even name them. We say do whatever works. Every gardener has his or her own secrets.

Don’t stop raking leaves and removing them from grassy areas. If left on the lawn, large leaves block the sunlight and trap moisture, increasing the risk for disease and winter damage. And it’s probably time to pack up your lawn equipment. Clean the blades on your mower, stash your trowels in a bucket of sand mixed with a bit of motor oil and find a safe place for your pruners.

Your lawn will keep growing until the ground freezes, but the rate of growth slows considerably. And though you may not notice much happening above the ground, underneath is a different story. If you’re wondering whether or not you can still apply a fall fertilizer, you have until the end of the month. After that, we are all at the mercy of Mother Nature. And she can be fickle at these transitory times.