Hello Fellow Gardeners,

Fall is the time of year we put our garden to sleep. Because of the cooler weather, it is a great time to do the necessary chores that we need to preserve or enrich our gardens for the Spring. Many of these chores will save a lot of time and confusion in the Spring if done now! Here is your get started list…

Sweep up those leaves! Leaves and pine needles make great organic mulch for your sleeping flower beds. Simply collect and spread to help protect your plants all winter long! Or get a compost pile started so you have great nutrient-rich soil in the Spring!

Bring your pots inside! Store pots used for seasonal plants away so they don’t crack, and bring year-round plants inside to enjoy the warmth of your home. Just remember to re-pot your plants to get rid of any bugs that might have crawled into your soil while outside. And as always keep your houseplants away from drafts, vents and not too close to windows (they are too cold!).

Put away your decorations! To keep your pretty garden decorations looking nice and new put them away for the winter! Bird baths, trellises, globes, small fences, small water features, and more should be stored where snow can’t get at them!

Collect those seeds! If you have sunflowers, poppies, columbines, or any other plant that produces seeds, make sure to collect them! You can use them to grow more of your favorites next year, or package them and give them away to your garden buddies! And don’t forget rose hips, they may look like a berry but they contain lots of great rose seeds inside of them! Check back soon at the Daily Weeder, we are going to be featuring a Fall Seed Collecting Guide!

If you have an organically grown rose, you can use your rose hips to make delicious recipes! Check these out…

Spring Valley Rose Hip Tea, Puree, and Jam

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Rose Hip Jelly

American Rose Society Rose Hip Jam, Jelly, and Marmalade

Homecooking.about.com Rose Hip Everything!

Put away your garden tools! To keep your favorite tools in good working order, make sure to store them away. Hoses, wheel barrels, shovels and more should be kept out of the snow!

To keep your metal tools from rusting try this trick! Fill a bucket with sand mixed with a little bit of motor oil and dip your shovels, pruners, and more into the sand! Leave them there all winter to have rust-free ready to use tools in the Spring.

You’re not done yet! Make sure to stay tuned for part two of our Fall Cleanup Checklist!

Happy Gardening,

Marie Suzanne

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