October at Bridge Gardens

Autumn is also a good time to think ahead. If you loved your daffodils, crocus, and other colorful bloomers last spring that lifted your spirits after winter, now is a great time to pick up more bulbs at a reputable local garden center or reliable online resource and get them into the garden.

Tuck a few in groupings of 5 to 15 and you’ll be enjoying this forethought next spring. I love the many colors and shapes of daffodils because they are deer resistant, as well as grape hyacinths, and crocus. But there are so many beautiful, easy-care bulbs to choose from, including tulips, chionodoxa and ornamental alliums. Many bulbs are planted throughout Bridge Gardens and bloom from late winter through spring, I hope you’ll be sure to check them out after our winter thaw.

Now is also a good time to tackle weeds like crab grass, that patch of mugwort in your back garden or those vines of bittersweet and porcelain berry. Read on for Rick’s tips in the Weed of the Month section, below, to help you identify and manage these invasive plants. It’s easy to think that there’s not much to do now, but a little garden sanitation in October will make your spring garden easier to manage.

I believe there is merit to the “leave the leaves” movement that encourages a less than spotless fall clean up. Many valuable insects, including pollinating bees and wasps, overwinter in the leaves and leftover stalks of perennials. If moles and voles are a problem in your garden and you feel you must clean your beds, be sure to leave a few areas untidy to provide habitat and cover for these important pollinators.

The hours spent tending your garden can be so restorative. I hope you’ll get out there to enjoy these glorious autumn days. And, I’ll see you at our Autumn Open House on October 21!

Be Well, Kathy