Fall Care For Perennials

One of the items included in fall care for perennials is to asses how your flower beds are doing. Perhaps some sun loving flowers are not performing well because they are now shaded by a tree that has grown over the years. Maybe one of your flower beds is not producing strong blooms because it is too crowded. In the fall, you can dig up and divide your spring and summer blooming perennials that need to be thinned out or moved.

Fall care for perennials also includes making sure they are protected against a harsh winter. Once the leaves have turned brown, cut back your plants to 6" or so above ground level (check with your local garden store for particular plant heights). Cover them with a mulch for winter such as straw or pine boughs. Keep watering your plants during the fall.

If part of your fall care for perennials list includes dividing your perennial beds, you can dig around each plant gently - going as deep as you can and trying to preserve as much of the root structure as possible. Tap off any loose soil. With a sharp knife divide the clumps - remove any diseased looking parts. Replant the clumps in soil that has been mixed with organic matter like compost or manure. Fill in the hole with soil and water thoroughly. Be sure to do this several weeks before the first frost so that your plants have a chance to spread out their roots before the ground freezes. Don't be surprised if some of your transplanted perennials take 2 seasons to come back into full bloom - peonies especially are well know to not bloom well the first season after a transplant.