Pros & Cons of Fall vs. Spring Garden Cleanup!
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Date: 2023-11-10
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Comments and reviews: 19
Sarah
I also think where you live (urban small yard or rural large plot)and gardening zone make a huge difference as to when to do garden clean up. I am in zone 4a and my grasses do great if I clean up in spring-even after 20 inches of snow. We cannot grow many of the grasses you may prefer or need to clean up in fall. If I cut them back in fall I lose the ones that grow here or they are stunted in grow. I always take annuals out in fall-that is where I find pest insects harbor/cause issues. I never cut back any shrubs in fall that grow here. I have never cut back a hosta ever. They simply seem to melt into the soil and come up in late spring here renewed. I have 120 different ones too! My native perrenials I have never touched and they are beautiful in spring. I do cut back peonies as they turn yellow and bulbs/day lillies. Roses take special work here. so again, I say, it depends on wear you live for climate ALSO where you garden- I am totally rural- not in an urban yard garden. I have 27 gardens.
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I also think where you live (urban small yard or rural large plot)and gardening zone make a huge difference as to when to do garden clean up. I am in zone 4a and my grasses do great if I clean up in spring-even after 20 inches of snow. We cannot grow many of the grasses you may prefer or need to clean up in fall. If I cut them back in fall I lose the ones that grow here or they are stunted in grow. I always take annuals out in fall-that is where I find pest insects harbor/cause issues. I never cut back any shrubs in fall that grow here. I have never cut back a hosta ever. They simply seem to melt into the soil and come up in late spring here renewed. I have 120 different ones too! My native perrenials I have never touched and they are beautiful in spring. I do cut back peonies as they turn yellow and bulbs/day lillies. Roses take special work here. so again, I say, it depends on wear you live for climate ALSO where you garden- I am totally rural- not in an urban yard garden. I have 27 gardens.
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Michele
Oh Laura thank you for addressing the challenges leaving leaves can make. I am a veteran gardener and live in a local with tons of leaves. After a number of years of planting and leaving leaves (hah) per the experts, I had more pests (spider mites, white fly and thrips) AND I lost a ton of ground cover because the wet leave smothered the plants. I made a switch and proceeded to clean up debris in fall. Here's the catch. my husband, who never gardened a day in his life, retired and now gets homeowner bulletins and what do you think they say? Don't clean up your leaves! I have tried to explain my rationale. I have tried to point to my decade old experiment. but since I am not an 'expert' I was losing the battle. Hence, your video which he will be treated to as soon as he wakes up, (probably with a nice breakfast of french toast to grease the wheels) may save the day. Thank you!
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Oh Laura thank you for addressing the challenges leaving leaves can make. I am a veteran gardener and live in a local with tons of leaves. After a number of years of planting and leaving leaves (hah) per the experts, I had more pests (spider mites, white fly and thrips) AND I lost a ton of ground cover because the wet leave smothered the plants. I made a switch and proceeded to clean up debris in fall. Here's the catch. my husband, who never gardened a day in his life, retired and now gets homeowner bulletins and what do you think they say? Don't clean up your leaves! I have tried to explain my rationale. I have tried to point to my decade old experiment. but since I am not an 'expert' I was losing the battle. Hence, your video which he will be treated to as soon as he wakes up, (probably with a nice breakfast of french toast to grease the wheels) may save the day. Thank you!
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Mclyle79
It was nice to hear your take on cleaning up gardens. I have had to take care of my mom s flower garden/bank zone 6b / 7a. It has been a learning experience and your video is a tremendous help. I now know to cut the Peonies down low. They had a lot of powdery mildew. I would love to find a more natural way to treat those. Is there a time in 6b /7a that is the best to separate Iris? They are so many and in desperate need of separation. Thanks for always teaching and inspiring. Great job Aaron on the leaf cleanup. Blessings to you
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It was nice to hear your take on cleaning up gardens. I have had to take care of my mom s flower garden/bank zone 6b / 7a. It has been a learning experience and your video is a tremendous help. I now know to cut the Peonies down low. They had a lot of powdery mildew. I would love to find a more natural way to treat those. Is there a time in 6b /7a that is the best to separate Iris? They are so many and in desperate need of separation. Thanks for always teaching and inspiring. Great job Aaron on the leaf cleanup. Blessings to you
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Rachel
Thanks for the nice balanced approach to a subject that seems to get some folks pretty wound up! In general, I think fall cleanup works better for me: I clear out and mulch leaves for compost, give the gardens a nice blanket of compost for protection and nutrition, move and divide plants, and know I'll be way too excited in the spring for the more humdrum garden activities. Powdery mildew is a big issue in my area so preventing the spread is an important concern for me.
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Thanks for the nice balanced approach to a subject that seems to get some folks pretty wound up! In general, I think fall cleanup works better for me: I clear out and mulch leaves for compost, give the gardens a nice blanket of compost for protection and nutrition, move and divide plants, and know I'll be way too excited in the spring for the more humdrum garden activities. Powdery mildew is a big issue in my area so preventing the spread is an important concern for me.
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Barbara
I try to clean up my Hosta s and peonies in the fall. I need to do more, but usually don t get it done until the spring. I do try to rake up my leaves out of the flower beds. We are having better weather this year here in north Iowa, so I might get more done. I m more of a fair weather gardener. Even though I live where it gets so cold, I hate gardening when it s cold and windy. We did get a few Christmas lights up before it gets cold and windy. That s a plus.
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I try to clean up my Hosta s and peonies in the fall. I need to do more, but usually don t get it done until the spring. I do try to rake up my leaves out of the flower beds. We are having better weather this year here in north Iowa, so I might get more done. I m more of a fair weather gardener. Even though I live where it gets so cold, I hate gardening when it s cold and windy. We did get a few Christmas lights up before it gets cold and windy. That s a plus.
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Kaitlin
I have to take wildlife into consideration. For the first time, I will be cutting down my perennial grasses. The last few years, we've had mice make nests in the grasses. Then if I wait too long in the spring, Robins make nests in the grasses, which can be an issue when new grass grows in. Don't worry, there are plenty of other places on my property for Robin nests.
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I have to take wildlife into consideration. For the first time, I will be cutting down my perennial grasses. The last few years, we've had mice make nests in the grasses. Then if I wait too long in the spring, Robins make nests in the grasses, which can be an issue when new grass grows in. Don't worry, there are plenty of other places on my property for Robin nests.
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deborah
Another con for waiting till spring to clean up your garden is that if you don't get out there to clean up when you should and new growth has already started you could run the risk of damaging the new growth when pulling away or clipping the old. I feel that there is more time in the fall to cleanup and less risk to damaging one's plants.
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Another con for waiting till spring to clean up your garden is that if you don't get out there to clean up when you should and new growth has already started you could run the risk of damaging the new growth when pulling away or clipping the old. I feel that there is more time in the fall to cleanup and less risk to damaging one's plants.
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Beverly
Can you steak the tall grasses? Or I have seen the taller grasses braided around the edge, just wondering if that would help with either the rain or the snow. Or can you spray all the things like bugs, mildew after you cut? How often does Aaron have to empty the mower's vacuum bag?
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Can you steak the tall grasses? Or I have seen the taller grasses braided around the edge, just wondering if that would help with either the rain or the snow. Or can you spray all the things like bugs, mildew after you cut? How often does Aaron have to empty the mower's vacuum bag?
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Amy
Hope you all are feeling better today. Here in my zone 9b FL I am lucky enough to have plants that stays green and few that go dormant but I still have to clean off those plopping over plants because I like seeing clean and tidy garden or lawn and also I fear of snakes.
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Hope you all are feeling better today. Here in my zone 9b FL I am lucky enough to have plants that stays green and few that go dormant but I still have to clean off those plopping over plants because I like seeing clean and tidy garden or lawn and also I fear of snakes.
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Agnieszka
I m cleaning up on the fall. We have a lot of black-walnuts trees around our property. I love old, huge trees but our produce a lot of mess from the spring to fall. During the fall we are collecting all nuts, then leaves and leaves sticks.
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I m cleaning up on the fall. We have a lot of black-walnuts trees around our property. I love old, huge trees but our produce a lot of mess from the spring to fall. During the fall we are collecting all nuts, then leaves and leaves sticks.
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Kayla
For me, I like cleaning up as much as possible in the Fall. I like things to be nice and tidy. When Spring comes I can enjoy all the new growth and fresh start to the gardening season. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic.
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For me, I like cleaning up as much as possible in the Fall. I like things to be nice and tidy. When Spring comes I can enjoy all the new growth and fresh start to the gardening season. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic.
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Jonathan
Do you do anything to your large pile of garden/lawn/leaf waste to prevent pest from over wintering there? Or, is it simply far enough away from everything else it is a non issue? Btw, Love the content!
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Do you do anything to your large pile of garden/lawn/leaf waste to prevent pest from over wintering there? Or, is it simply far enough away from everything else it is a non issue? Btw, Love the content!
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Sue
Christmas Reminder.
Laura don t forget, it takes 4 garlands to do your bedroom balcony display.
I m watching your Christmas lights video and you said I hope I remember
I m sure you will member x
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Christmas Reminder.
Laura don t forget, it takes 4 garlands to do your bedroom balcony display.
I m watching your Christmas lights video and you said I hope I remember
I m sure you will member x
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Deborah
I do not have a huge garden as you but I do trim back what needs to be in Fall. and in Spring I go back to those and trim through them to let them breath as well as trimming the bushes before Spring.
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I do not have a huge garden as you but I do trim back what needs to be in Fall. and in Spring I go back to those and trim through them to let them breath as well as trimming the bushes before Spring.
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Marie
You probably have so much on your plate, but I was just wondering if you do anything any more in the little sunroom where you have the chaise lounge? I used to love how you'd decorate it at Christmas.
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You probably have so much on your plate, but I was just wondering if you do anything any more in the little sunroom where you have the chaise lounge? I used to love how you'd decorate it at Christmas.
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Kate
It was just as satisfying watching you clean out the perrenial geraniums as it was watching Aaron vacuum up the leaves! Zone 9b here. No snow and no real fall cleanup either.
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It was just as satisfying watching you clean out the perrenial geraniums as it was watching Aaron vacuum up the leaves! Zone 9b here. No snow and no real fall cleanup either.
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Jody
I agree with you. I clean up better in the fall. I get anxious
waiting for the frost to get done. Have more time in the fall. I have been lucky enough my plants come back
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I agree with you. I clean up better in the fall. I get anxious
waiting for the frost to get done. Have more time in the fall. I have been lucky enough my plants come back
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Magbis
Laura, I am a new gardener and I was wondering if you could share your resources on where to buy biological stuff that you applied to your garden? Thank you
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Laura, I am a new gardener and I was wondering if you could share your resources on where to buy biological stuff that you applied to your garden? Thank you
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Athena
I laugh because we have many trees also that we mow circles around and I always wondered what it looked like doing almost 100 donuts in the yard
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I laugh because we have many trees also that we mow circles around and I always wondered what it looked like doing almost 100 donuts in the yard
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