Calgary Horticultural Association – Time to wrap up the garden

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As we have seen this winter, gardening in the Chinchuk zone is challenging, and winter seems to be passing by very quickly. To make the most of our short growing season, it is worthwhile to spend time in the fall preparing the garden for our changing winter climate. Also, it is good to be out on a beautiful harvest day and there is a lot to do.

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September 10 is the first snow day for Calgary. We may still have good weather, but if the snow has not hit your yard in the morning, they are on the road. Be sure to pick up or pick up pieces of annual geranium (Pelargonium) before cooling. Soak the pieces in water, then make them like houseplants. If you want to store the picked geranium, put it in a cardboard box as logs and let it dry for a day or two. Keep the box in a cool, dark room. At the end of January, plant the tails in a pot for beginners at the next summer show.

After light snow, the moon, like Dahlias and Gliolus, is about to pick up the summer bulbs. The snow kills the green growth of plants, but if the frost does not get into the soil, the bulb is good. Cut the stem to about three inches[3 cm]allow it to dry for a day in direct sunlight, and then remove the soil from the bulbs. Store the bulbs in peat moss or vermiculite in a cardboard box in a cool, dark room.

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Each year is different, but between mid-October and the end of October, a gardener can expect the ground to begin to cool. Most root crops need to be harvested before they can be harvested. Some gardeners store carrots and leaves under a thick grass cover to keep them cool. To collect them, push the cover to the side, pull the desired one, then cover them again.

To clean the flower beds, pull the annual or trim the ends. Root balls rot and improve the soil. As they disappear, return to the trunk for 10 years. The shrubs collect snow to lighten the plant. In early spring, before new shoots appear, the bushes must be close to ground level. For winter interest, leave all alleys, confetti, sunflowers, pools and ornamental grasses standing. Although dried peony leaves may seem very flexible, they should be removed to prevent botrytis. Put healthy cuttings and leaves in a green container. Any diseased or moldy plant material should be placed in a bag and placed in the trash.
Do not be too clean when cleaning. Place a pile of leaves, foliage and wood in the corner of the garden as an overcrowded shelter for beneficial insects. If you want beetles in your garden, you should provide a summer shelter.

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Now is the time to plant spring bulbs and garlic. Consider planting colors for early spring, crocuses, grapes, snowflakes (the association’s light bulb for 2021), scissors, daffodils and tulips. For small bulbs in groups of 25 or more, large bulbs should be planted in at least five clusters.

Once the garden is harvested, plants are planted, light bulbs are planted, and beds are covered with compost and a hammer is applied. Fertilizers add nutrients and improve the soil during the winter, but strawberries help protect the garden from frost and freezing. You can use it as a fertilizer if you want. Do not cover continuous crowns when applying glue. Covering the crown of these plants can cause decay. Moisturizers can be applied before or after the ground has cooled.

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Keep watering your trees, shrubs, and seeds until the ground is cool. After our dry summer, these plants need good fall care to help them during the winter.

Now is the time to wrap up this gardening season and start planning and preparing for next year. Join the association to attend free monthly membership talks and receive discounts on programs. Of course, if you want to increase your gardening knowledge by one or two, take a Master gardening course during the winter.

For more information on gardening in Calgary and community events and programs (including our main gardening program), visit our website calhort.org.