How to Care for Your Garden in Autumn: A Gardening Plan

To ensure a bountiful harvest from your orchard, it's important to properly care for your trees in the fall. Preparing trees for winter involves a series of steps, including fertilizing, pruning, and treating for diseases and pests. Digging and moistening the soil are also essential. Implementing these procedures before the first frost will make it easier for your orchard to survive the winter and ensure a healthy harvest.

The Importance and Significance of Autumn Care

Once the last harvest from trees and shrubs has been collected, it's time to begin preparing the garden for winter. A number of important steps must be taken to increase their winter hardiness, namely:

• strengthening the immune system;
• reduction of branch volume;
• protection from diseases and pests;
• top dressing;
• watering, digging;
• whitewashing trees;
• leaf cleaning.

These procedures allow plants to withstand severe frosts or sudden thaws. If you miss any steps, you'll have to catch up in the spring, which could result in a poor harvest or even death.

Proper care of the garden and vegetable garden in autumn by month

In autumn, caring for fruit trees and the garden involves certain procedures that are recommended depending on the month. In September, it's time to begin harvesting and planting fruit trees and shrubs. In October, shoots and suckers are pruned and removed. The trunks are also whitewashed. In November, fallen leaves and pruned branches are collected, and each trunk or shrub is dug and fertilized.

September, where to begin

September is considered an important month for any gardener. This month sees the active harvesting of fields, vegetable gardens, and allotments. Key activities include:

1. Harvesting certain fruits, particularly pears and apples. For long-term storage, it's important to harvest them on time. Mid-September is considered the optimal time. If the fruit is left on the vine for too long, it won't keep for long.
2. Planting fruit crops. These include apricots, apples, peaches, pears, and also grapes, gooseberries, and currants.
3. Pruning fruit trees and shrubs. Broken or diseased vines should be removed, as should dead branches. After pruning, the shrubs and trees should be treated for various diseases and pests.
4. Harvesting the last vegetable crops. The first frosts can negatively affect potatoes or tomatoes.
5. It's time to plant winter garlic to get a harvest in early spring.

For those who grow flowers, September is a busy month. This month sees a flurry of seed collection and the planting of daffodil, tulip, and other flower bulbs.

What to do in October

October is the perfect time to replant trees and shrubs. Just make sure to wait until they've shed all their leaves. At this time, you can begin harvesting late-ripening fruit. Some varieties are harvested and then set aside to ripen. The next step is fertilizing the plants and cultivating and loosening the soil.

Green manure crops are also planted in October. In southern regions, it's best to plant them early in the month, but in northern and central regions, planting this crop is not recommended, as spring crops simply won't have time to mature. Rye and winter wheat, however, will ripen and grow well. If green manure crops were planted earlier, they can be dug over in October to enrich the soil with organic matter.

If the soil is acidic, it can be reduced this month by liming it with chalk or lime. Flower bulbs can still be planted during this period. When the first frosts appear, carefully uproot the tubers of begonias, dahlias, lilies, gladioli, and anemones.

November, preparing the garden for winter

In November, final preparations are made to prepare the vegetable garden and orchard for winter. First, certain plants need to be covered. For example, there is a certain grape variety whose vines need to be covered for the winter, even in the southern regions with their mild climate.

Tree trunks are whitewashed. This is done to protect them from the sun's rays in the spring, as well as to deter pests and rodents. Sunlight can burn the bark, causing cracks. In regions with cold weather, fruit trees are insulated with peat in the fall, and the trunks are wrapped in fabric to allow air to pass through.

Autumn gardening plan

Proper autumn care for an orchard begins in September and ends two weeks before the first frost. To avoid missing anything, it's recommended to create a preliminary plan based on your region and implement all relevant activities based on it. Basic garden care activities include:

• windfalls are collected from the ground, pests are destroyed;
• planting young seedlings in October, when there is frequent rainfall and a significant cold snap is felt;
• pruning of fruit-bearing plants;
• whitewashing tree trunks;
• carry out preventive work against fungus and rot;
• treatment of branches and trunks from insects hidden inside;
• collection of fallen leaves and cut branches, their burning;
• digging around trees;
• plant feeding and fertilization.

If necessary, plants are insulated and protected from rodents. Young seedlings require particular care, as they are more susceptible to attack by rodents and pests.

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Whitewashing tree trunks

Whitewash Fruit tree protection is very important in the autumn. It protects the plant from:

1. From insects that lay their larvae and cause harm to the plant.
2. Protection from temperature fluctuations. During the day, the bark is warmed by sunlight, but at night and in the evening, it is exposed to severe frosts.
3. When the tree has not yet had time to cover itself with leaves in the spring, whitewashing protects it from burns.
4. Protection against fungal diseases.

The solution can be prepared in several ways. The simplest is a solution consisting of lime, copper sulfate, and water. For every 10 liters of water, you'll need 2 kg of lime and 400 grams of copper sulfate. You can add a little paste to the solution to increase its viscosity, as well as cow manure or 1 kg of clay.

However, when caring for young trees, remember not to use paste for whitewashing. It prevents air from reaching the bark. For young fruit trees, a solution is prepared from 1.5 kg of clay, 3 kg of lime, and 1 kg of cow manure. All ingredients are dissolved in water.

Another option is to purchase a ready-made whitewash mixture for tree trunks. This mixture can be inexpensive and contain clay and lime. However, it is quickly washed away by rain and will need to be reapplied several times. Alternatively, you can purchase a more expensive product containing carbolic acid. This will not only ensure the whitewash lasts longer but also protect against rodents and hares.

Sanitary pruning

Trees should be pruned at least twice a year – in spring and fall. In fall, shrubs and trees are pruned before frost, when all the leaves have fallen. However, be careful not to overdo it, as excessive pruning can actually harm the tree rather than benefit it.

The simplest pruning involves removing dead shoots or diseased branches. To prevent the disease from spreading to other fruit trees and shrubs, it's recommended to burn such branches outside the garden. If the branch is dead, removing it won't cause any harm to the tree. If you have to prune a diseased shoot, the cut should be treated with drying oil or oil paint, as these branches are still considered alive.

The main goal of this procedure is to improve air and sunlight flow throughout the entire crown. Sanitary pruning helps shape the crown properly by removing excess branches, as well as those growing downward or toward the crown. Branches that cross each other should also be removed. To maximize sunlight exposure, branches should be evenly distributed across the tree. Branch pruning is also considered an important procedure. This helps establish the correct growth direction.

Preventive treatment of the garden against diseases

Fruit bushes and trees are treated with special medicinal substances to prevent various diseases. To prevent various spotting use drugs, which contain copper, copper sulfate solution, or Bordeaux mixture. Prevention can be done with fungicides such as Topsin, Horus, or Kuproksat.

Medicinal products such as Strobi, Impact, or Skor can help prevent rot or scab. If cracks or other wounds appear in the bark, they should be treated with a 5% copper sulfate solution. After processing They are sealed with cement.

Special iron brushes are used to clean branches and trunks of dead bark, as it is where the larvae of apple moths, silkworms, and other insects hide.

Autumn feeding

Autumn care for mature and young trees also includes fertilizing. This is crucial, as it provides the plant with strong immunity, allowing it to withstand severe frosts and increase fruit production in the new season. Fertilizing is applied when the trunks are dug up.

There are two types of fertilizers in the autumn period:

1. Humus.
2. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

Humus should be added depending on the tree's age. If the tree is under 8 years old, 30 kg of humus is sufficient; if it's older, 50 kg or more. By spring, the humus will have time to rot, and the plant will receive the necessary nitrogen supplement.

Monopotassium phosphate is a popular phosphorus-potassium fertilizer. It consists of 34% potassium and 54% phosphorus. This fertilizer is fully absorbed by the plant. However, it is expensive, so it is recommended for use on very sensitive crops.

Potassium-based fertilizers include potassium chloride and potassium sulfate. It's best not to treat shrubs with potassium chloride, as it can be debilitating. Potassium chloride has no adverse effects on trees. Potassium sulfate is suitable for feeding both trees and shrubs. The recommended application rate is 5 to 10 grams per square meter.

Popular phosphorus fertilizers include ammonium phosphate and superphosphate. Superphosphate is preferred for fall feeding because ammonium phosphate contains nitrogen.

Features of caring for fruit tree seedlings in autumn

After planting, care for young trees consists of mulching the soil and tying it to a support (stake). To avoid damaging the root system, dig carefully to a maximum depth of 15 cm.

The young bark of seedlings is very attractive to mice and hares. To protect the young plant from attack, the bark should be covered with a special covering material. A simple mesh with fine mesh can be used as a covering material. Regular synthetic stockings and tights can also be used.

Protecting your garden from insects

Tree bark provides a comfortable overwintering habitat for a variety of insects. They can lay their eggs in the bark, in nests in the crown, and even in fallen leaves. To protect your garden from insects, take the following steps:

1. Clear the entire garden of leaves and other debris. Use a wire brush to clean tree bark. To eliminate caterpillars that overwinter in the soil, dig the soil to a depth of 15 cm.
2. Inspect all plants thoroughly. Treat cracks and abrasions in tree bark with 5% copper sulfate and seal with cement.
3. Spray the garden urea solution (3 or 5%), as well as preparations that contain copper.

These manipulations will help protect the garden from such popular insects as fruit stalks, silkworms, aphids, and lungworts.

Protecting your garden from rodents

Garden trees and shrubs are very susceptible to attack by various small rodents and hares. For protection, the trunk is wrapped in material. For example, this could be burlap or old rags with roofing felt.

To prevent mice from reaching the trunk, the tree's covering should be well buried at the base. Pine or spruce branches can also be used to protect the garden from small rodents. They should be placed in a circle around the trunk and tied around the trunk. Mice can also be repelled by coriander sprigs. If they are scattered near the tree, the mice may be alarmed by their scent.

Watering the trees in the garden

Watering the garden before winter is recommended only in regions with low rainfall. If the humidity in the region is normal, watering should begin in October, but not later.

Watering in the fall, combined with hilling the base of the plant with soil, can actually harm the tree instead of benefiting it. Therefore, hilling trees is only permitted in regions with little snowfall and severe frosts.

The last watering before winter recharges the tree with moisture and strengthens its root system. During winter, roots are able to access moisture from a depth of 1.5-2 meters. Furthermore, watering before winter improves the growing season, replaces spring watering, and protects the tree from sunburn.

When watering, it's important to remember that excess moisture is just as dangerous as too little. If a tree doesn't get enough moisture, it won't be able to develop immunity to severe frosts. On average, 10 to 16 liters of water per square meter is sufficient.

Digging up wood

When wondering whether it's necessary to dig around trees in the fall, inexperienced gardeners believe it can be postponed until spring. However, fall digging is essential and very important. It kills the larvae of harmful and dangerous pests, oxygenates the soil, and decomposes the seeds and roots of various weeds.

Digging should be completed no later than October. The root system of young seedlings is shallow, so deep digging is not recommended. The root system's location depends on the fruit tree variety. For example, apple trees have roots within a radius of 20 to 60 cm around the trunk, while plum trees have roots within a radius of 20 to 40 cm.

To prevent the soil from freezing and drying out, dig around fruit trees carefully and avoid breaking up large clumps of soil. Digging the soil in late autumn is also not recommended, as early snow will prevent the soil from warming up properly and quickly in the spring.

Leaf cleaning

In the fall, when caring for fruit trees, it's also important to rake up leaves. Leaves harbor various insect and pest larvae for the winter, and may also harbor disease spores. This should be taken into account when tidying up your garden.

If the area hasn't been exposed to various diseases or pests, fallen leaves can serve as a good fertilizer. To do this, collect all the leaves in bags and, in the spring, pour them into a pile to rot. Over the winter, any harmful microorganisms remaining in the leaves will be killed by frost. If fallen leaves are susceptible to pests and diseases, they should be collected and burned.

Tips for Beginners

There are several helpful tips for beginning gardeners. These tips can help you grow a bountiful harvest next year without harming your garden. Typically, by the end of August, most shoots in the garden stop growing and a terminal bud forms. To ensure rapid bud formation, fertilizing and periodic watering are recommended.

The main actions in garden maintenance are:

1. Tree supports. If the harvest is bountiful and abundant, it's important to protect the branches from damage from the heavy fruit. Special supports are installed for this purpose.
2. Fertilizing. To protect your orchard from frost, apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizers in the fall. These boost the plant's immune system and increase its frost resistance.
3. Whitewashing tree trunks. This protects against diseases and pests. It also prevents the bark from getting sunburned.
4. Removing dead and dried branches.

Don't forget about protection from various diseases, pests and rodents that attack the garden.

In conclusion

Neglecting gardening in the fall is a good idea. Proper autumn care of a bush or tree ensures proper growth. The future harvest depends entirely on the quality and thoroughness of tree care. By caring for the garden in the fall, a gardener protects the plant from diseases, rodents, and pests, strengthens its immune system, and provides it with all the necessary nutrients.