GARDENS & VERSES: Autumn Has Arrived

Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.

― Chad Sugg

Clean the garden with consideration for pollinator nesting sites and food for birds by:

•  Saving stems. Many pollinators need stems of various diameters as shelter for overwintering and nesting in spring. They will utilize the hollow or pithy stems of native wildflowers and plants like raspberry, elderberry, yucca and roses. Prune dead wildflower stems to varying heights from 8” to 24” and leave them standing until new growth starts in spring. 

•  Keeping flower heads of native plants that feed birds, including sunflowers, asters, goldenrod, coneflowers, blazing stars, Joe Pye weed and rabbitbrush.

•  Leaving the leaves. Leaf litter is critical habitat in cold climates for pollinator eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises and adults, and other invertebrates that feed many types of wildlife.

Use fallen leaves to mulch trees, ornamental shrubs and tender perennials, and pile them into garden and vegetable beds as mulch.

Leave a thin leaf layer on lawns to decompose, add nutrients and retain moisture.

If you can’t repurpose it, add healthy garden waste to compost piles or bins.

Turn off sprinklers and give them a blowout. 

Garden Tips comes thanks to members of the Park Hill Garden Walk committee. The annual Garden Walk is held in June. To suggest local gardens or artists for upcoming garden walks, please contact Paula Marinelli at paulagardenwalk@gmail.com.