{"id":124560,"date":"2024-11-22T03:00:24","date_gmt":"2024-11-22T08:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.hobbyfarms.com\/?p=124560"},"modified":"2024-11-25T10:01:32","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T15:01:32","slug":"perennial-plant-care-tips-for-late-fall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/perennial-plant-care-tips-for-late-fall\/","title":{"rendered":"Perennial Plant Care: 7 Tips For Late Fall"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perennial plant care is important as we enter late fall. It is time to give perennials the care they need to make a successful return in the spring. It is natural to watch these plants die each year, but dying too soon can mean they won\u2019t be strong enough to go dormant and come back next year. Below are seven perennial plant care tips to ensure your perennials are dormant and not dead.<\/p>\n

Fall Perennial Plant Care Tips<\/h2>\n

#1 Water<\/h3>\n

If your perennials are dead, stop watering them. We may think they need help with water even after their natural cycle of living has passed, however, continuing to water a plant that is dead will promote rot or fungal growth in the soil.<\/p>\n

However, if your perennials are still alive, continue to water them until the temps drop below 40 degrees. The amount of water you need to apply will depend on the type of soil you have, but you need to water until the top six to nine inches of soil under your plants feels wet. This will help your plants avoid winter kill. The only true way to know how moist the ground is after watering or rain is just to dig out around and feel the soil.<\/p>\n

#2 Weeding<\/h3>\n

The amount and regularity of weeding will certainly decrease in fall, however, it is still important to enter winter weed-free. Allowing the weed seeds to go dormant in your beds will wreak havoc for your spring beds.<\/p>\n

#3 Cutting Back Plants<\/h3>\n

This technique depends on what the plant is. Some plants will need to be cut back right now, and some will need to wait until spring.<\/p>\n

Always prune back ANY perennial plants with disease and insect infestations. These conditions don\u2019t clear up over the winter, they worsen. Take the time to properly eliminate them from your garden and throw them away in the trash. Never risk keeping them on your property through compost or any other means.<\/p>\n

According to the Farmer\u2019s Almanac, technically, very few plants MUST be cut down in the fall. And never rush to cut things down; hold off until after several hard frosts. Even if the flowers or leaves are dead, the roots reclaim energy from the dying plant for healthy growth in the spring. This list includes:<\/p>\n