Dorothy McGhee discussed fall garden cleanup practices at Wednesdays Dirt Diggers Garden Club.
Gardeners are faced with several choices in the fall, she noted.
Is it better to rake up all of your leaves and cut back all of your perennials, she asked. Or should other measures be followed?
The first choice is to whether a gardener should simply step back and let the plants put themselves to bed, she noted.
The answer lies in whether one wants a habitat for wildlife, or a tidier appearance.
There is no one right way to do it, McGhee said.
Those who prefer the tidier method should rake leaves and debris, such as dead annuals and vegetables, while cutting back all perennials to the crown. Perennials with diseased stems may need to be dug up entirely, she warned.
The perennials and grass should be cut when stems start to flop with wind or snow in the winter; but never shorter than 1 foot. Leftover stems protect plants and provide a spot for nesting bees. Birds enjoy the nutrition of seed heads, while other birds feast on leaves. Thats why many gardeners leave leaves in the garden, for the sake of the pollinators.
Smaller leaves decompose quickly, while larger ones may stack together and suppress plants and lawns. Those should be raked or cut, McGhee said.
Saving seeds from plants is rewarding, she continued. Gardeners must determine if the seeds are hybrid. F1 hybrid seeds may be on the plant or seed packets. They dont produce seeds that come true or grow plants that look like the parent plant, she warned.
Pick seeds when they are ripe.
You can take a bowl or jar to collect seeds from the pods; just let them spill into the container.
For example, marigold seeds that are brown and spent are ready for harvest. Gently pull the seeds out of the seed head, and spread out on a tray to dry. Then place the seeds indoors, and out of direct sunlight.
Keep the seeds in an airtight container or ziplock bag.
Keep them in a dark, dry location, preferably between 32 and 41 degrees a refrigerator is a perfect location until you are ready to plant once again.
Four members attended Wednesdays meeting.
Maxine Redfearn will host the 2 p.m. Oct. 9 meeting.
