Parade of Homes

132 PARADE of HOMES FALL 2023 VEGETABLE GARDENS 1. DIG SOME MORE Vegetable beds can be tilled a bit deeper than flower beds. As with flower beds, it's a good time to add compost or other amendments. 2. CLEAN UP OLD PLANTS "You're definitely getting rid of the debris that's in there so you don't have any fungal or disease if there is any decaying matter," Hrycyna says. Some people might till in old tomato plants so they can compost in the soil, but she'd rather the plants go into a compost bin or pile. "Composting actually cooks up and it helps things break down a little bit faster into more of a nutrient. Nobody wants to be gardening and having pieces of old tomatoes that didn't break down come to emergence." 3. TRIM AND COVER UP Winter prep is needed for fruit such as raspberries and strawberries that are often grown in vegetable gardens. Raspberry bushes can be thinned out in the fall by removing dead canes. Don't forget to take out debris such as any leaves or berries that have dropped. Strawberries get extra protection with a layer of garden straw on top, then put covers over them. LAWNS 1. KEEP CUTTING Don't put your lawnmower away too early. Grass grows in cooler tem- peratures and it should be cut short heading into winter. "Voles loves running in longer grass," Hrycyna says. "You're just giving them a food source in there." 2. ADD FERTILIZER Corn gluten meal is a natural fertilizer that works well on lawns. It can be sprinkled on in the fall, but if you're looking for weed prevention, use it in the spring because the gluten inhibits germinating seeds such as dandelion. Careful not to use it if you're growing lawn seed. 3. GIVE THE HOSE A WORKOUT Just like trees, shrubs and perennials, water your lawn late into the fall so it's healthy before winter dormancy. STRAWBERRIES GET EXTRA PROTECTION WITH A LAYER OF GARDEN STRAW ON TOP, THEN PUT COVERS OVER THEM. Gardening

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