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Rolf Hokansson

Planting Fall Cover Crops

Planting Fall Cover Crops

With the advent of September and autumn, the cooler nights are a time to give yourself a brief respite after the summer and refresh your vegetable garden with a cover crop. Cover crops, also called green manure, are very beneficial to the "tilth" (structure, or physical suitability for planting) of your soil.  Sown in the fall, usually late September, cover crops will enhance soil over the winter. They attract pollinating insects, break up heavy soil, add organic material and decrease the number of weeds.

Fall And Winter Prep In My Perennial Garden

Fall And Winter Prep In My Perennial Garden

It's hard to believe that after our long, hot summer it's already time to start planning and prepping for the colder seasons. However, nature and the changes in the garden are telling me that it's time to start the process. Here’s what I do in my garden to prepare it for fall. One of my first fall tasks is to survey the garden to look for yellowing of leaves, fungal damage, and eggs that some of the pests may have left. I'm also looking for signs that plants may need transplanting or separating. I will prune some of my perennial plants, and also mulch to protect them.

My Favorite Roses

My Favorite Roses

I'd like to share my observations about some of my favorite roses, which I currently enjoy both in the garden and in bouquets at home. The first rose I planted was 'Altissimo' because I thought it best to start with a red rose.  By autumn of that year, I was sold on roses. The rose grew about 6 feet, had large deep red flowers that continued to bloom all summer, a moderate fragrance and large hips of a glowing orange suitable for fall bouquets.

Winter in the UW Arboretum Garden

Winter in the UW Arboretum Garden

As I approached the winter garden, the enjoyable scents started filling my senses. The garden was alive with various shades of flowering hamamelis (witch hazels) and the Garrya ellipitica was feeling proud to display its sensuous catkins letting me know the alders will be soon to follow. 

 
 

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