Put the garden to bed and dream of spring

The leaves on the dogwood tree in our yard have turned a magnificent burgundy.

Frosts have arrived.

The chickens have started to molt.

The leaves are changing color and have begun to fall.

It’s time to put the garden to bed and prepare it for winter. Here’s what I do:

Clear out old vegetable plants and annuals. Add these to the compost pile or give it to the chickens.

Rake leaves, mow to a fine leaf mulch, add to compost pile, garden beds or give to chickens for bedding.

Add the last grass clippings of the season to the compost pile. Grass clippings will heat up the pile and get the materials breaking down into compost more quickly.

I am told that one should wrap fig trees in burlap. My fig tree enjoys a warmer microclimate since it is planted on a south facing wall next to the chimney and I don’t wrap it. I have a friend with a magnificent fig tree that also faces south against a wall that is never wrapped. The figs at RRCG, exposed in the open, will be wrapped. Last year we literally wrapped the tree in burlap. I think it needs more protection than this so this year we will place four stakes around the fig tree, wrap burlap around the stakes making a box around the fig, and then stuff the burlap box with hay.

Deadhead roses. Prune back any dead canes. Put any diseased plant material in the garbage. Of course, you can leave some rose hips on the plant to enjoy the beautiful color and to feed the birds. Or, harvest the hips and use in tea.

When the perennials die back, remove dead leaves and stems and add them to the compost pile.

Raspberries. Unless you have the room to let raspberries take over the yard it’s time to prune them. You’ll want to wear gloves for this! Once the plant is finished fruiting prune to the ground the two year old canes, they’re the ones that are woody. This year’s new canes, green and succulent, will put out fruit earlier next year than canes that start next summer. The new canes that come up next summer will put out fruit a little later in the season than the canes allowed to overwinter so by leaving the previous year’s growth I can stagger my harvest of raspberries. Of course, you can just remove all of the canes and you’ll get one big harvest in the summer. The canes can be composted.

Ornamental Grasses. Many people trim them at the end of fall. I like the look of the dried out grasses and I like to listen to the sound they make when they sway in the breeze so I trim mine at the beginning of spring before they start growing again. Either way is fine for the plant. And, of course, the leaves go into the compost pile.

Harvest as many herbs as possible, put them in baggies and stash in the freezer.

Bring in houseplants from outdoors.

I am going to get on my soapbox now. One of the single most important things you can do for the health and vitality of your plants is to start composting. Not only are you reducing your carbon footprint, saving our town money by reducing the costs associated with picking up leaves and yard waste, saving your own money by reducing the need for fertilizer and water but you will grow healthier more productive plants. Composting works in your favor in many ways. Just do it. Now I’ll get off my soapbox.

It’s time to enjoy evenings by the fire in the wood stove, dreaming of spring.

See you next year!

Amy Davidson is a resident of downtown Riverhead and co-founder of River and Roots Community Garden. She has been a backyard gardener for 16 years. When she is not in the garden she is herding seven chickens, two dogs, two cats, two kids and one very patient husband.amy@riverheadlocal.com