Fall Gardening Tips from P. Allen Smith and STIHL

Feed the Birds. As the shelves in nature’s pantry empty, it’s time to get out the bird feeders. Before you fill them, make sure they are clean. Feeders can be sanitized with a solution of one part bleach to nine parts hot water. Keep areas under the bird feeders clean of seeds.

Bring in Your Houseplants. When nighttime low temperatures get to around 50° F, it is time to start moving your houseplants back inside. Before bringing them back inside, check them carefully for any unwanted “hitchhikers,” such as insects, that may have set up summer homes in your plants. Spray the foliage gently with the garden hose and wipe the leaves with a soft cloth. If you think your plant shows signs of mealy bugs or aphids, use a houseplant safe insecticidal soap following label directions.

Hydrate your Flowers - The end of the growing season can be hot and dry. These conditions are stressful for plants, particularly those that are in containers that have less soil around their roots than those planted in the ground. Keep flower pots, window boxes and especially hanging baskets well watered, and mulch your flowerbed to keep moisture in and weeds down.

Dig up Summer Bulbs - Before the ground freezes, dig up tender summer bulbs such as elephant's ear, caladium, gladiolus, canna and dahlia and store them for the winter. As you dig them up, check to see if the bulbs are soft or rotting. A healthy bulb will feel firm, not hollow or mushy. Discard those that aren’t healthy. If you live in an area with mild winters, leave tender bulbs in the ground, but protect them over the winter with a layer of mulch three to five inches deep.

Protect Roses. By late summer, cut back on fertilizing your rose plants. Feeding stimulates new growth that could be snuffed out by winter's cold. After cold temperatures cause foliage to drop, prune the canes back to 36 inches to prevent damage from winter winds, and cover the plants with at least eight inches of loose, well-drained soil, mulch or compost.

Add Autumn Sizzle. Bring on a blaze of fall colors in your garden by adding plants in seasonal colors of fiery reds, warm golds and brilliant oranges. There are new varieties of fall plants such as ‘Snowman’ pansies that can thrive in temperatures well into the teens to give you weeks of beauty. Traditional annuals such as chrysanthemums, impatiens, and ornamental cabbage are also reliable plants that will add accents of color.

Divide Perennials. Transplant and divide perennials in the early fall to renew a plant’s vigor, limit its spreading or to propagate more plants. Work on a cool, cloudy day to keep plants from drying out. Once the plants are divided, plant them as soon as possible. Transplants do best if they have a few weeks to develop some roots before the ground freezes. Check gardening resources to make sure the variety you move is suitable for fall division before digging.

Save seeds. If you have been removing spent blooms to stimulate the growth of more flowers, stop deadheading in late summer so the blossoms can produce seeds. Once the seeds have developed, allow them to dry and then crumble the dried flower heads into a container. Separate the seeds from the debris and put them in a labeled envelope to plant next spring. Some plants, such as four o’clocks, verbena-on-a-stick, and bachelor buttons are vigorous re-seeders so you can let them fall to the ground and they will return naturally. Just be sure they are plants you want to spread so they don’t become an unwelcomed returning guest in your flower beds.

Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs The best time to plant bulbs that bloom in the spring such as daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and crocus is from mid-September until the ground freezes. Why plant now? Many bulbs require several weeks of chilling time before they will bloom. As you select varieties, note that they bloom at different times during the spring season; either early, mid or late spring. By selecting a range of flowering times, you’ll enjoy a long sequence of color that will last for weeks. Prepare your soil before planting the bulbs. Work compost or other rich organic material into the planting area to a depth of 12-inches. The rule of thumb is to plant the bulbs to the depth of three times the height of their height. For instance, a tulip bulb that is two inches tall should be planted in a hole six inches deep, so the base of the bulb is six inches below the surface, not the point or top of the bulb.

Clean up Debris. Clean up leaves, sticks, rocks and other late season leftovers that can harm next year's lawn and harbor pests and diseases over the winter, but leave enough cover and seedheads to provide wildlife some cover and food. A STIHL HomeScaper Series™ shredder/vac makes cleanup easy with a special shredder blade on the fan wheel to reduce yard waste, and an Easy2Start™ system that makes starting almost effortless.

Trees and Shrubs

	Prune Selectively. Fall pruning can stimulate new growth on some trees and shrubs. Tender new leaves won’t have a chance to harden off before cold temperatures set in. So focus your pruning activities on dead or diseased branches. Prune those areas before the leaves fall because it is easier to see those areas while the foliage is still on the tree or shrub.
	Water Deeply. Once the ground freezes in winter, particularly in cold climates, available ground water is locked up and can’t be taken in by trees and shrubs. So give your plants a good soaking one last time before the onset of below freezing temperatures. Newly planted or recently transplanted trees and shrubs need special attention and must be well watered to help them survive the winter.

Tool Care
	Clean up Hand Tools. Before you store your hand tools for the growing season, spray them off with water to remove potentially corrosive chemicals and dirt. If you can’t remove the dirt with water, try lightly scrubbing off the dirt with a wire brush. Because wooden handles on shovels, hoes and other types of hand tools are constantly exposed to harsh weather conditions and use, the wood can wear and start to splinter. Clean the wooden handles with water and let them dry. Apply a coat of linseed oil and let the oil soak in before you store them for the winter. Oil any moving parts on tools such as pruners and garden loppers.
	Clean up Power Tools. It’s not too early to start thinking about preparing your power equipment for winter storage. When it is time to put your gasoline-powered equipment away for the season, drain the fuel by letting it run at idle until the engine stops. If fuel is left in the tank, it can gum up the fuel system, which can be costly to repair. For equipment like the STIHL KombiSystem, which has multiple attachments such as a blower, extended hedge trimmer, lawn edger, mini-cultivator and trimmer, check each attachment for any needed maintenance. Off season is the perfect time to send equipment to your dealer for maintenance as work loads are reduced. Follow directions in the manufacturers’ instruction manuals for specific recommendations for each attachment. For more tips go to http://www.stihlusa.com/information/.  Empty Hoses. Drain the water from garden hoses at the end of the season. Coil them and store them in a spot where they won't freeze. Prepare Winter Power Tools. Chain saws and other engine-driven equipment that will be used during the winter should be drained and refueled with winter-grade gasoline. Consult manufacturers’ instruction manuals for details on maintenance, cleaning and storing. More tips & information on the best products for each job can be found at www.pallensmith.com and www.stihlusa.com. About P. Allen Smith Smith is the author of the best-selling Garden Home book series and is considered one of the foremost gardening and outdoor living experts in the country. In addition to his own nationally-syndicated television series on commercial networks, P. Allen Smith Gardens, he also hosts P. Allen Smiths Garden Home on public television and is a frequent guest on the TODAY Show and The Weather Channel. Smith has received several national awards for creating special opportunities to educate and inspire the American public about the joys of gardening. STIHL is the official handheld outdoor power equipment sponsor of P. Allen Smith. About STIHL Inc. STIHL Inc. manufactures the world’s largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast— not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the U.S. only. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the dealer locator on the STIHL Web site at www.stihlusa.com STIHL is the official outdoor power equipment sponsor of both P. Allen Smith Gardens and P. Allen Smiths Garden Home.