Autumn prep

[RosieTR]

What are you doing (or soon to be doing, or should be doing) to prep for autumn? I'm mostly trying to do some seed saving at this point, and some harvesting of the very temperature-sensitive stuff, like basil. Also trying to think about what I'll do differently next year. I should be trying to find a spot for some cool-season crops like lettuce and spinach and picking the flower buds off the tomatoes since they won't have any chance of actually making it to harvestable tomatoes before hard frost but haven't got to that yet.

[Gardenarian]

My garden was pretty much a wash this year due to my health problems. It looks just horrible, so I am just letting everything dry out and die right now and working on plans to get my winter garden in.

I'm going to mow down the wildflower meadow I planted and start it over, as I was unable to maintain it this year (it should become maintenance-free once established - but mine never got a chance to really establish.) I think I'm going to move my raised beds - the soil is tired anyhow. So, basically, dump a whole lot of manure and straw on everything.

Next year will be better for sure.

[awakenedsoul]

I'm still harvesting zucchini, tomatoes, and pumpkins. I need to pick and dry basil, oregano, and sage. Have been pulling up the popcorn plants. They weren't successful. (Poor pollination, but they look pretty.)
As far as prepping for Autumn, I've got a big batch of composted manure that I need to put on the veggie beds. I still have watermelon growing, and they won't be ready to harvest for another month or so. I've started raking up leaves, and will put those underneath all of the citrus trees in my backyard as mulch. I need to plant my broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts. My lettuce has reseeded from last year, and is coming back. I've got to plant some garlic and onions, too. Will try growing carrots, as well.
The persimmons look like they will be ripening early this year. Those are always a treat!

[CathyA]

Not doing anything yet in the garden, as it is still producing. I'm just hoping we don't have a frost tonight. Its supposed to get down to the upper 30's. I still have tons of tomatoes, winter squash, peppers and some beans. I sure don't want to have to cover them all with tarps!

I've been thinking about burning the end of the garden this year, where all the squash bugs are. I was really hoping to put the garden to bed for the winter properly this year.......but it always seems like September and October go by in a flash. We planted about 7 small pine trees in one end of the garden last year, to hold them until we could plant them in the field............so that has to be done too. I would love to put everything from all my compost piles in the garden this Fall too. Nothing like great soil to grow great veggies! Just wish my body wasn't falling apart...........

[puglogic]

I am building two sheet-mulch beds for next year's use (using the recipe in Gaia's Garden), one for potatoes and one for berries. Making a huge batch of compost to cure over the winter. Made a worm composting setup for winter use -- we call it the Yippee Ki-Yay (delete Die Hard expletive) Worm Ranch, and it's thriving!

And oh yes, I just got my order in from http://thegarlicstore.com and I'm ready to plant too!

[iris lily]

I should be hauling boatloads of compost to amend the soil. I've still got half dozen iris to plant.

Come November it will be time to move and plant lily bulbs and take up summer bulbs.

My dahlias have done fantastically well this year and I will make a sincere effort to keep them viable in the basement over winter. Usually I don't bother to dig up dahlias, but that is because I've not had ones that I really liked and that did well.

[puglogic]

Iris Lily, I have (at our new house) a patch of iris that no longer flower because a) they're in a place impossible to water, and b) the surrounding trees have grown up and there is virtually no sunlight. When is the time of year to move them to a more hospitable location?

[RosieTR]

Iris Lily, I have (at our new house) a patch of iris that no longer flower because a) they're in a place impossible to water, and b) the surrounding trees have grown up and there is virtually no sunlight. When is the time of year to move them to a more hospitable location?

I need to know this too! I'd like to split/move some right now, and if they don't bloom next year oh well. I'm hoping IrisLily has some hints! BTW, Pug...not sure what your soil is like but I haven't done a darn thing to/with ours and they seem fine. They are in full sun but not where the sprinklers hit so have pretty much had no supplemental water this summer. Not sure if you have a spot picked out already for when you do move yours but thought I'd share since we're in the same climate.

[Mrs-M]

Oh, lots. Giving the lawn one final cutting, raking up debris/leaves, etc, watering conifers (extra) before the heavy frosts arrive, weeding flowerbeds to give them a fresh fall look, and pruning back any overgrown shrubs/bushes/trees.