We have a frost advisory tonight. Mid- to late- October. It’s a late frost this year, and probably a light frost, but I can finally think about cutting back my peonies. I have already cut back the hydrangea and dead-headed what the birds won’t dine on over the winter. Stalks with seeds for birds litter my garden this time of year. Pretty certain the neighbors with perfect lawns are rolling their eyes once again.
I have cardboard hiding grass where I want to expand flower beds next spring, so if it isn’t the dead and dying seed heads for birds, it’s the bricks and cardboard on the lawn that drive those 1950’s lawn afficionados.
Actually, I think it only bothers the landlord next door and that’s fine.
My husband has been door-to-door collecting leaves the neighbors are willing to pile up on the street curb for him. He’s ready to spread them over the vegetable garden area for the winter: a free-to-us and eco-friendly ground cover to prevent weeds in the spring.
I cut woody stems down to knee high: the bugs like to drill into the stems and overwinter.
The peonies get trimmed to the ground after the first frost. The roses get mulched, but not pruned back until February of next year. I’ve pruned the dead out of the rhododendrons. And I have sown winter seeds in hopes the rains will come soon and help them germinate.
I have also picked up all the little wire fences that hold plants up or keep the dog from trampling the tender stalks. Once the plants are gone, the dog can’t see the wire fences (he’s 90% blind) and we don’t want him tangled up in wires.
I’m not sure how to winterize my ponds this year, but I cleaned them, rescued a few fish (they may overwinter), but the solar panels and pumps… What do I do with those? Something to look up in a pond book or ask the ever-wise internet.
I have decorated for All Hallow’s Eve. Last year I think we had five spooks come by, but the night was very dark, very wet, and our street has no street lights. If it is dry, we might get 20 little critters, half of them teenagers. Otherwise, no matter how clever I am or how many strings of lights I put out, the little beasties stay to well-lit streets.
I just can’t fathom why.
And, last, as a parting statement: I will be changing up what and how I blog (again) soon.
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