It is time for the growing season to start slowing down…we are expecting our first frost this week. If you are bringing any plants in from the yard, you had better hurry. If you are cleaning up your yard for the season, here are a few pointers…

• If these plants are still blooming, don’t cut them back until Spring  (Coneflower, Lady’s Mantle, Russian Sage.)  Leave the seeds on them through the winter for the birds to eat. 
• Do not trim these bushes back at this time of year…mock orange, forsythia, lilacs, viburnum. Trim in Spring immediately after blooming. These bushes, by the way, look good together.
• If you are planning some new space for flowers next spring, now is the time to lay broken-down cardboard boxes (plain brown cardboard with tape and staples removed) in the shape of your desired bed, wet them down with a hose, and mulch right over them. You will have a barrier for weeds and grass, and over time, the cardboard will simply decompose. 
• A smart way to store your metal hand trowel and shears? When you are done using them for the season, fill a bucket with sand and a bit of baby oil (5 gallons of sand to 1quart of oil). Wiggle the tools around a little to “scrub” off dirt It will help tools stay free of rust and ready to grab.
• Hope you got your amaryllis out and put it in a sunny window and are watering regularly.
• The experts suggest that mowing your leaves is better for your lawn than raking. It helps contain weeds, and as it decomposes, it will fertilize the soil with the nutrients your grass needs. During your final mowing session, keep the grass a little on the longer side (Taller grass has longer roots, which are able to reach more nutrients during winter.) Aerating the soil also helps those roots grow. 
• Messy flower beds are eco-friendly—they provide a place for pollinators to hunker down in the winter. Remove damaged branches and mats of fallen leaves. Toss in some of those mulched leaves from your lawn.
• You can still plant bulbs, but you need to get it done before the ground freezes. And cover the area with leaves.
• Some thoughts about your window boxes…Use birch bark tubes or branches, moss, glass spheres, pinecones, fresh cut boughs of cedar or pine with tinsel or tiny ornaments to decorate empty window boxes at this time of year.
• To make cut flowers last longer: Combine one part lemon-lime soda (not diet) to three parts water. Add ¼ teaspoon bleach to each quart of this solution. 

Enjoy your autumn days and have fun in your garden!