Manager's Message
by Judy Zatsick, Site Manager, Green Spring Gardens
Judy Zatsick
Green Spring Gardens is stunning in the fall. Summer’s frenzy of planting, weeding, and watering is paying off. The annuals are in full glory. The heat and stress of summer have passed, and perennial plants rally with the cool temperatures and changing light. Salvias begin blooming again, Encore azaleas toss off new blossoms, and the mums and asters shine.
As temperatures continue to drop and frosty nights increase, cheerful blooms of Cyclamen hederifolium begin to fade. Their dormant leaves unfurl in beguiling patterns and shapes, setting the stage for the winter garden. Winterberry hollies have colored up, their berries peeking through the leaves. When frost hits, their leaves drop, revealing autumn fire in shades of red, orange, and gold.
And the mosquitoes are finally gone!
But before we can put our feet up and peruse the growing pile of next year’s catalogues, there are a few chores to complete.
Below are top tips to get your garden beds in shape for winter from staff members and Master Gardeners at Green Spring Gardens:
Parker Jennings (Horticulturist)
It’s time to bring the houseplants and tropicals inside. Frost is forecast in the outlying areas of DC. Some tropicals, such as Acalypha and Colocasia, suffer with temperatures lower than 50 degrees, and continued cold temperatures may set them back. Christmas cactus and Phalaenopsis orchids, however, will set bud when the temperatures drop. And you’ll want to let a hard frost hit your cannas and dahlias to stop new growth before lifting them for the winter. Before bringing your containers inside, remove cachepots and check for slugs hidden under edges of pots. Spray plants with neem oil to kill any pests that may be sequestered in soil or leaves. Dahlias, asters, zinnias, and mums are still producing flowers for arrangements. Take advantage of seed heads, hips, and pods for winter décor.
Alda Krinsman (Plant Shop Manager)
Transplant your deciduous shrubs. They are losing their leaves and can be relocated as long as the ground can be worked. Cut off all peony foliage that has botrytis and powdery mildew and put it in the trash, not in your compost. Ditto for bee balm and phlox. Leave Monarda fistulosa ‘Clare Grace’ for winter interest. Cut seed heads off ironweed, coreopsis, and Solidago canadensis ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ to manage spreading. S. ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ can revert to the bigger, aggressive Solidago canadensis.
Green Spring Master Gardeners:
After you have finished harvesting your summer vegetables, plant a crop of green manures for ploughing into the soil next spring. This year, the Master Gardeners in the Edible Garden spread seed that included Persian and Balansa clover, yellow mustard, hairy vetch, daikon radish, forage collards, and triticale. These nitrogen-producing plants will provide good organic matter and food for your garden crops next year, as well as help to control weeds over the winter.
Adam Bucher (Natural Resource Manager)
Adam’s list:
- Plant bulbs and pansies/violas/cabbages; get those biennials in.
- Mulch and edge garden beds.
- Gather materials for winter displays—grape vines, seed pods, and colorful stems.
- Get a jump start on invasives; remove them during the winter so new growth can be treated at ground level in spring.
- Get ready for snow; make sure all tools are in good condition.
Judy Zatsick (Site Manager)
If you have large trees in your yard, don’t spend hours blowing, raking, and bagging. Mow the leaves as they accumulate, allowing the chopped leaves to help build the soil in the lawn or garden beds. Be sure to leave some of the entire leaves at the back of beds to provide cover for overwintering insects, including lady bugs, fireflies, certain swallowtails, and fritillaries, and many native bees, including bumblebees.
Spring bulbs for forcing can be potted up now and stored in a cool, frost-free place until it is time to bring them indoors, usually 10 to 14 weeks. There are lots of choices available to buy at nurseries and garden shops, including Hyacinths, Narcissus, and Amaryllis. You’ll be so pleased to see spring arrive in your house in January.
Happy Gardening!
