Protection of plants for the Winter starts now

Winter in woody and herbaceous perennials injury can be caused by a number of things. A factor is that many of the plants in the winter in a "green" or immature State. This is caused when too much moisture plants during the late part of the season. If it is due to too much rain, not much can be done about it, but if artificial watering is practiced, it should be reduced when this season. It is therefore good advice not to overwater perennials too much in this time of year, so that maturity is encouraged.

This also applies to deciduous shrubs and trees, and evergreens. Drier captures during the fall the certain chemical changes in the plant so that they better be willing to cold weather when winter set. This does not mean that the plants need to go in the winter in a very dry condition. At about the time action light Frost, a thorough watering of all perennials will help to put them in a better condition for winter survival.

Fall is a good planting season for many herbaceous perennials and a must for the planting of Spring Flower bulbs. In the area West is doubtful for Fall planting a large number of our deciduous shrubs and trees. If val plants is done, it must be started as soon as the plants exhibit signs of dormancy. Unless the task is urgent, the average gardener best to wait until spring to do most of its tree and shrub plantings. Survival is probably much better. Successful fall planting hangs a long fall season, so plants can be a good root system for winter sets in.

A number of perennial plants can be divided and transplanted in this time of year. Peonies, Oriental Poppies, bleeding hearts, asparagus and rhubarb are such plants that benefit will of Val transplantation aside from maize plants, especially if the lumps become overcrowded, overgrown or weed-ridden. Normally, they do. not often need to share unless such conditions exist.

Although irises are best transplanted around midsummer, this can work to be done in the fall. Shasta daisies can also be divided and at this time of year again.