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Marin Home / GARDEN
Falling for the Garden
There is much to do in the late season garden. BY KIER HOLMES
If you’re like me, you don’t just garden in the pretty months. I enjoy a continuous relationship with my plants and like to work in the garden all year
long. And now with fall approaching, it’s easy to become obsessed with
chores like incessant leaf raking. But in Marin we get a second spring, and
there is much to do to keep your garden love affair growing strong.
TIPS FROM THE EXPERT “Anyone trying to achieve a drought-tolerant garden must plan ahead,” says
Dan Dufficy, owner and founder of CNL Native Plant Nursery in Tam Junction, who highly recommends
planting California natives in the fall. “As the rain sets in, roots push and acclimate to hard, unforgiving local
clay soil.” He also suggests, “Native seeds, however, should not be scattered in the fall. Instead wait until the
warmth of early spring for better success.”
WHY OH WHY One reason to stay active in
the garden is that the soil is still warm and seed
germination happens best in warm temperatures. Plants get the luxury of growing slow and
strong, getting to establish their roots through
winter. Savvy Soil Good draining soil is critical
once the rain starts, so amend all new planting
beds with generous amounts of rich compost.
Be Cool Cool-season veggies take up less space
than massive pumpkins and squash. Easy to
grow from seeds sown directly in the ground are
chard, carrots and radishes. Easy to start from
nursery seedlings are broccoli, cabbage and
cauliflower. Watch for destructive snails and
slugs as the weather dampens. Apply natural
bait products like Sluggo. Flower Power It’s best
to plant flowers now before the weather turns
cold, but be sure to also protect pretty petals
from late hot spells. The most reliable flowers
are calendulas, Iceland poppies and violas. Much
More Lawns (sod or seeds), perennials for spring
blooms, and most hardy shrubs and fruit trees
can be planted now. Resist the urge to plant
frost-tender tropicals. Boost Roses You may be
able to squeeze out one more bloom from roses
during this time. Cut off faded flowers, fertilize
the soil with rose food and water deeply. Wait
until after New Year’s for the hard-core pruning.
Water Wisdom Unless early rains surprise us,
just about everything will still need irrigation.
Check for moisture to make sure. Use a trowel
or shovel to see what the top 2 or 3 inches of
soil are like. Don’t forget plants and pots under
eaves that don’t get the benefit of rain. Feed Me
Give lawns a fall feeding, if you haven’t already.
Also look for signs of iron deficiency on citrus
leaves; supply a dose of citrus food containing
iron if you notice yellowing leaves. Divide and
Conquer When certain plants stop blooming it
could mean they need to be divided; examples
are daisies, agapanthus and yarrow. Now is the
perfect time to do this.
