By this time of year, the summer container plantings are looking a bit tired, droopy and probably dead from the recent 32 degree temps we've had! There's really no choice but to send those blackened plants to the compost pile. But now it looks so empty and dull with them gone!! Instead of spending the next few months looking at a drab landscape, you might consider creating a late season container planting that will not only fill the void left by the demise of those summer annuals but will also encourage the resident birds to visit and entertain you. There are a couple of 'rules' to be aware of before you proceed. First, be sure to choose a container that can withstand our winter's freeze/thaw temperature cycles. Terra cotta ,typically, is not a great choice since it tends to crack. Plastic or glazed would be better. Next, it's crucial to choose plants that are hardy to,at least, two zones colder than yours. This puts us in the Zone 3 to 4 range. Plants in that category include some of the bergenia, pansies, sedums and, of course, most evergreens. New Zealand Flax (hardy to 27 degrees) is another possibility. Even though it won't survive our winter temps, it can still be used to great effect as a vertical accent similar to ornamental grasses-another good choice. Including red twig and yellow dogwood branches to your design, will add color and a convenient perch for the birds. Add crabapple branches, holly berries and a whimsical garden ornament, too. Now, won't winter be so much easier to survive with your lovely planter to look at!!
It's raking season. Not a chore anyone truly looks forward to! Since we have to get rid of
the leaves, anyway, consider using them to make leaf mold mulch. Making a wire mesh bin to contain the leaves is ideal but not necessary. An uncontained pile will work just as well. All that's necessary is make a pile, compact it, if possible, and wait a couple of years to harvest the black gold it'll create. A couple of years!! I'm not that patient so I've figured out a way to get the process speeded up. The obvious one is to turn the pile frequently and add some bloodmeal. It's faster but still not fast enough for me and it's a lot of work! The job will be easier if you already have a mulching mower (attachment). My ride-on lawn mower doesn't do a very good job at pulverizing the leaves so I use the push mower. For some reason, removing the lawn clippings bag catcher helps to pulverize the leaves into much smaller pieces. Instead of putting them into a pile,I spread them directly on the garden beds as a mulch about 2-3 inches deep.Chopped up leaves are not all that pretty to look at but the snow's going to cover it and then I, or anyone else, won't have to see it all winter. Spreading it around in a thin layer is what will make those leaves into the wonderful black gold we're looking for and...it's one less thing to do next Spring! FYI: This is not compost but a soil conditioner that will allow your gardens to retain moisture far better. It can be used as an amendment in potting soil, too. Either way, pile or no pile, I like the idea of 'recycling' Mother Nature's gift.
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