Newsletter 4 Get ready for fall and foil those invasives!
Hello Everyone!
Before we get started, I want to share some exciting news with you!
I am thrilled to announce that beginning with the October edition, I will be a monthly contributor for The Gardener News , covering the important topic of Horticultural Therapy. You can find The Gardener News in many stores around town. (King’s always has a supply.) Or you can check The Gardener News website for many other sources. Here’s their link www.gardenernews.com
Thank you so much to clients and friends who have been visiting my new and improved website! The number of visitors has increased dramatically almost overnight, and I am delighted that there is so much interest! If you haven’t stopped by lately, please drop in to finaltouchplantscaping.com. We are now posting current and archived copies of these newsletters and press releases, in case you missed any e-mail versions. There will be even more improvements to the site as it evolves. We are constantly tweaking it, so if you have an any comments, suggestions, questions, or ideas that you would like share, please let me know!
Getting ready for fall.
Well, we finally made it through the record-setting Summer and, at last, we ‘re enjoying some lovely pre-Fall weather. This is a great time to work in the garden and get going on that Fall to-do list. Here are five things you can do now for a beautiful garden this season and next year.
Plant bulbs now for beautiful flowers next Spring. Most bulbs come back to greet you every Spring for several years, so a little work now can mean a big payback later. Daffodils (deer resistant), Scillas, Hyacinths, Crocuses, and many others will provide an early show in your landscape, just when you’re longing for some color after a long, gray Winter.
Prune back perennials that have finished blooming for the season. They will look tidier, stay healthier, and won’t distract from their still-blooming neighbors. An added bonus, some plants have beautiful seed pods that may be used for Fall floral arrangements.
Change or replace tired Summer annuals with fresh, Fall-colored plants that will last into the cold weather.
Clean up plant debris to decrease disease, bacteria, fungus, and insect pests that may over-winter.
Make a plan for next year. What worked in the garden this year? What didn’t? What is your vision for next year? Every year provides a fresh start for you and your garden experience!
About those invasives.
Let’s talk about choosing plants for now and for next Spring. Do you know what plants are considered to be “invasive”? Are they already in your garden? Many garden suppliers often sell plants that, though beautiful, may be considered invasive. A responsible gardener and environmental steward knows the difference between invasive and native plants.
As you plan next year’s garden, consider adding native plants and removing any invasives you may have inadvertently included in your landscape. I can help you identify and sort out the good natives from the bad invasives, and recommend good substitutions.
Why should you care? Invasive plants are a problem because they effect the environment in a number of negative ways . They can damage the eco-system by upsetting the relationship between plants, their pollinators, birds and other wildlife. Damage to your garden by these bad guys may go unseen until it’s too late. “But it came from a nursery, so it must be OK!” Not necessarily. If the garden center tells you that the plant spreads rapidly, it might be invasive. If they tell you that it’s deer resistant, it could be an invasive plant that deer have not added to their menu, yet. Ask your garden center if your plant selection is a native or an invasive. Where did the plant originate? If it came from a far-away locale, be careful. It may be an undesirable that could take over and crowd out some beneficial, indigenous plants.
For help with your landscape, garden questions, or more guidance on responsible garden practices, please contact me. You can reach me by phone at 908 872-8387, by e-mail at, laura@finaltouchplantscaping.com or stop by the website, finaltouchplantscaping.com
Happy Fall!
Laura
Final Touch Plantscaping, LLC is a certified member of the New Jersey Small Business Development Council Women
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