Don’t forget to continue watering! In New York City, it hasn’t rained for almost 3 weeks. Temperatures are also still quite high. My backyard is parched so I’m watering every other day. I don’t want my plantings to be stressed before they enter the dormancy of winter.
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If you have rosemary, verbena, or lavender in your garden, save the leaves when you prune for sachets or lemon verbena infused vodka!!
I've been gardening for 40 years. It is such a source of beauty, exercise, design inspiration, wildlife fostering and peace. It gets more difficult as one gets older though. My soil is so improved that truly hundreds of baby trees pop up all spring and summer of about 12 varieties. Trees are quite tenacious even as infants. If you don't get them out within weeks it is tough to do. I used to object to mulch as ugly and unnatural looking but have finally had to embrace it. I try not to use Roundup but hand pulling everything is a losing battle. I do use Preen to prevent germination in some areas. I keep the birdbaths fresh and if hummingbirds eat here it is organic only. I have lots of flowers but don't agree with red sugar water. I have squirrels, owls, cardinals,robins, wrens, mockingbirds, bunnies. Herons and hawks fly overhead. I agree that the garden should be for the animals too.
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@Consuelo Roundup is a carcinogen that harms humans and other animals. Please try not to use it.
I miss the gardening column in the NY Times. Its so nice to see, even though there wasn't much substance to this article.
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Why do people in the US plant the same Asian or European exotic plants everywhere? Plant natives and hold on to that regional uniqueness, it's part of what makes your area special! Even more importantly you're helping out all the creatures that depend on native plants that form the base of the food chain.
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while I don’t mind sharing space with critters in the garden, they can be a little too greedy for me to feed and water during the winter....my summers are spent repairing holes in the house made by chewing squirrels and protecting tomato’s from voracious chipmunks! Ernie the ermine stalks the property during winter months and might mistake the critter shelter for a dining hall...num num num.
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Are the recommended plantings native plants? We read about the bird population diminishing. Birds eat bugs. Bugs prefer/need native plants. According to one online source, several of the suggested flowers have "no serious insect ... problems."
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Not helpful at all. How big is this garden.
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there seems to be a collective delusion lately about when summer ends. The fall equinox is on 9/23. Until that happens, it's still summer.
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@D.A., CFA
Thank you, thank you!
Please don't hurry summer down the road...despite the fact that I went shopping for heirloom pumpkins for my front porch this afternoon!
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The author suggests using a 'thin layer of mulch' but available research suggests that a thick layer (about 6 inches) is more efficacious in terms of weed prevention, soil improvement, and protection of roots during winter.
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Thankfully our garden is done-ish. And needs little maintenance whatever time of year. Because we like to take care of our local wildlife - bunnies, chipmunks, squirrels, birds, etc. the only thing we have to do now is get the shelters set up for winter.
We have 2 in out backyard. Elevated flooring covered with cedar shavings and straw with a basic box frame covered with heavy duty clear plastic so we can see them and they can see out. They're both situated in areas sheltered from the wind and the critters love them. You'll often see several bunnies, squirrels and birds all hanging out in them together eating, keeping warm and getting a drink. They all seem to be pretty happy with it.
I mention this because I think it's a shame so many people plan gardens around themselves and not helping the local wildlife along. Putting out food and fresh water for them on a regular basis - and planting for them, fruit and nut bushes/trees - is not a big imposition or expense. And it gets you outside raking, and actively enjoying your garden and them along with it. As you get to know them - and they get to know you - it really becomes an immense pleasure.
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@Sparky. I love this idea.
I’d love to hear more about these sanctuaries. Is there a template?
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@Sparky
Good for you (in every sense) doing this.
It’s very rewarding creating a garden that is a healthy habitat for other creatures as well as ourselves.
I have a resident rabbit that lives in my garden and we’re so used to each other at this point that I was out weeding a flowerbed recently and he/she just hung out within a few feet of me casually munching on clover in the lawn. Every so often we’d look at each other and go back to our respective tasks...it was wonderful.
I wish more homeowners were like you.
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I've always been taught NOT to prune at this time of year. Pruning stimulates growth, and you don't want new growth as we near the time of cold and frost. Curious why you suggest it?
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@Johanna
"Tidying" may be closer to what the author means. You can even encourage rebloom sometimes this way. But given the NYT's enormous distribution range and the variety within the plant kingdom, generalizations always get you in trouble. Here in SoCal our local paper reminds us today that October and November are prime tree pruning season!
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@Johanna
My dear, you've been 'taught' incorrectly.
Fall is ideal for pruning, but not too deeply. Otherwise, you'll destroy the buds that are quietly developing on flowering shrubs/trees for their springtime debut!
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@Robert J. Wlkinson
When to prune depends on the plant. Do some research first, and you'll be fine.
Plants and flowers make a garden undoubtedly beautiful. But plants are an immobile nature that can be made live only by the little animals "gyring and gimbling in the wabe" on the lawn and birds dansing in the air around a bird feeder. My wife has planted a Midwestern prairie that offers refuge to squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks. When I look at them from the rear porch, I imagine myself the main figure of the two homonymous paintings, "Creation of the Animals" -- God and Jesus, respectively. (The one by Tintoretto, the other by Master Bertram). I hasten to assure the Believers that I neither arrogate, nor attribute to myself any divine characteristics.
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@Tuvw Xyz Gardening from Lewis Carroll to the Venetian school and German International Gothic. Admirable eclecticism. Last sentence reminiscent of Thomas Browne "I dare, without usurpation, assume the honourable style of a Christian."
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@Tuvw Xyz Lovely references. My garden is in the same state with bees, and butterflies, and the odd rabbit.