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Fall Garden Cleanup is Important
 Life in the garden
follows the cycle of the calendar from season to
season, and this is the point in the cycle where
a thorough cleanup prepares the garden for the
slower season of winter and the revitalization
of spring. There are several basic tasks to be
done:
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Remove spent
annuals from your garden. Pull them out or
cut them off at ground level and leave the
roots to decompose and add organic matter to
the soil.
-
Cut back
herbaceous perennials (such as peonies,
irises, yarrows) you do not want to leave
standing over the winter. Leave an inch or
two of stem sticking up above the crown to
help you find them in the spring. Perennials
with strong stems and decorative seedheads
(such as purple coneflowers, black-eyed
Susans, and 'Autumn Joy' sedum) can be left
standing to provide texture and form to your
winter garden. Also leave perennials such as
lavender, sage, Russian sage, and thyme that
set next year's growth buds above ground on
woody branches. Do not cut down ornamental
grasses until late winter or early spring.
-
Clear the dead
plants, fallen leaves, and other debris from
the "floor" of your garden. This yard waste
can harbor diseases, rodents, or eggs of
insects.
-
If any weeds are
still growing in the garden, get rid of them
now with Roundup® Weed & Grass Killer
Ready-to-Use so you will not have to contend
with them in the spring.
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Cut a clean edge
where landscaping and flowerbeds meet the
lawn. There are lawn edging tools made just
for this job, although a spade (especially
with the edge sharpened) works well. Edging
is easier if done the day after rain or
watering, so the ground is soft.
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If you are
careful, you can use Roundup Weed & Grass
Killer to edge the areas of your garden
beds. You can also use it to eliminate grass
and weeds along fencelines for a clean, neat
appearance.
It may be a bit of
work, but cleaning up the garden is a great way
to enjoy the cooler fall weather while getting
some fresh air and exercise...and you will have
a rewarding feeling of accomplishment when
you're done!
Source: Miracle-Gro
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