Stay busy outside this fall
- Cantwell Creek Garden Center is located at 601 W. Chestnut St. in Coshocton. Beacon photo by Josie McCormick
Fall is a great time to cleanup your gardens, add perennials and decorate.
“You want to pull out and destroy all your annuals,” said Debbie Gaumer from the Garden Patch. “Any pests or diseases they might have had could linger for next year’s garden if you don’t get rid of them.”
Travis Secrest from Cantwell Garden Creek Center also said it’s a good idea to rake up your leaves.
“They also could have diseases that could spread,” he said.
The Garden Patch is located at 25336 CR 10 in Coshocton. Beacon photo by Josie McCormick
The lack of extreme temperatures also creates a good opportunity for planting your perennials because they are less stressed.
“It’s also a good time to get deals on them,” Gaumer said.
Secrest said now is a perfect time for planting trees and shrubs.
“It’s not hot like it is in July,” he said. “You almost have to babysit them then because the water evaporates so fast.”
Fall also is a great time to decorate the outside of your home with mums, pumpkins, gourds, bales of straw and corn stalks.
Secrest just suggests that you get your mums in the ground before it gets too cold so they have a better chance of making it through the winter.
Gaumer also reminded gardeners to not trim or fertilizer their mums in the fall.
“The dead stems need to be left there for a reason,” Gaumer said. “They are a natural insulator for the plant. You open them up for freezing if you trim them.”
The Garden Patch and Cantwell Garden Creek also can help you pick out other flowers that are great for planting this fall.
“Asters and anemones are both late bloomers,” Secrest said.
When it comes to picking out pumpkins, Secrest says you want to check for soft spots and want to make sure your pumpkins have a good handle on them.
“You don’t want it to come off when you pick it up,” he said.
Gaumer said your fall decorations should last you through the season.
“You need to keep them from getting frosted and wash them with soapy water or bleach to kill bacteria that can make them rot quicker,” she said.
Category: People & Places
