Home And Family

There can be nothing more therapeutic than working outside. Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of the time spent in your outdoor garden.

1. Save for Spring: When you clean up your garden this fall, save the seeds of your favorite flowers. You can remove seeds by shaking the dried up flowers. Put the seeds you gather in a sealed jar for storage through the winter. Plant them in the spring and enjoy your free supply of new flowers.

2. Tidy Up: Tidy up your vegetable gardens in the fall. Remove all of the plant debris and you will lessen the pests, weeds and diseases for next season.

3. Store Batteries Inside: Since rechargeable tool batteries are so expensive, be sure to bring them inside for the winter. You will get longer use out of them.

4. Put Up Summer Bulbs: Dig up your canna and other summer bulbs after the first frost and store them in a cool, dry place like a garage or basement. Replant in the spring and the plants will be bigger and more beautiful than ever.

5. Take Cuttings: Some plants such as coleus and geranium can be clipped and put in water to root. After that you can plant them in small pots and keep them in a windowsill. Move them to your outdoor garden in the spring.

6. Prune Your Roses: Cut your dead roses off in the fall, but wait until late winter to do the deeper pruning. Be sure to rake and remove leaves and old blooms to cut back on disease for the next year.

7. Water New Lawns: If your lawn is newly seeded, be sure to keep extra moisture on it. If it hasn’t rained, you need to water it yourself.

8. Take Care of the Tools: Once you have finished with all of your fall garden chores, clean your tools and sharpen them. Apply mineral oil to any wooden handles and store in a dry place until spring.

9. Wrap Young Trees: Apply tree wrap around your young trees in the fall to guard them against winter damage. Remove the wraps by Easter.