Garden Making

Inspiring ideas and information for great home gardens

Fall

‘The Fairy’ rose keeps on blooming

By

The Fairy rose is one of three plants that keep blooming. Any plants that can keep showing a flower into November are well worth having in duplicates.

Best fertilizer for lawn in autumn

By

Autumn is the time to look in garden centres for bags of the best fertilizer for your lawn. October is the month to get it spread across the lawn.

Ornamental grasses in bloom

By

Roses and ornamental grasses in the front garden continue to bloom and prolong the seasonal display, much appreciated in autumn

Discovering hellebore seedlings in fall

By

At the end of the growing season, in late fall, I clear away the leaves to discover healthy hellebore seedlings under the skirts of several plants.

How to winterize roses

By

When it’s time to begin to winterize roses, give special attention to rose climbers such as ‘Clair Matin.’

Preparing containers for winter

By

Clay pots last a long time when the garden containers are prepared for winter by emptying the soil keeping them dry for when deep frost arrives.

Late bloomers in the garden

By

Plants that bloom in the fall and continue to bloom into the first weeks of November such as ‘Arendsii’ monkshood are definitely an asset.

Bargains to be found at garden centres

By

There are bargains to be found at garden centres! Shopping the late-season sales is one way to find good shrubs and perennials at discounted prices.

Making leaf mould

By

Leaves left in a pile and exposed to moisture will compost into a dark crumbly mass of leaf mould, which is an effective conditioning material.

Garlic festivals across Canada

By

Have a stinkin’ good time and attend a local garlic festival. Here’s a list of garlic festivals in Canada.

Small shrubs with autumn colour

By

Small shrubs will take on bright autumn hues. ‘Mount Airy’ fothergilla’s fall foliage is a lovely shade of orange-apricot.

Why we feed the soil

By

By feeding soil, we then let the soil feed the plants. The best way to feed soil is to add leaves (dug in or as mulch).

How to move roses

By

If you’re wondering when and how to move roses, autumn is a good time to move a rose bush, should you be so inclined.

When and how to store dahlias and cannas

By

Dahlias need to experience a hard, killing frost before being dug. Taking them out of the ground too early, while still green, results in quick rotting.