When Will The First Frost Happen?
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Depending on where you live, the first true “killing frost” may already have occurred. Here in northern Illinois, the frost has been light and usually only in lower areas that are more in the open. We haven’t had that frost that seems to wipe out all the annuals and many of the more tender perennials in landscape beds.
I spent this last weekend pulling up plants that were still growing, but I still need to get them all fully out before winter comes. I try to compost many of the plants, but there are always a few that I want to dispose of in lawn clean-up bags. I mainly do so with plants that may have had a disease or grew so large that they will overwhelm my compost bin. I also don’t compost plants that produce a lot of viable seed like marigolds and snapdragons. My compost never gets quite warm enough to take care of the seeds. Enough of the seeds still fall to the grounds as it is.
It has been nice to still be enjoying some home grown tomatoes and green peppers through November. The forecast for this week projects higher temperatures later in the week, but a drop to below freezing weather over the weekend. I will leave my tomatoes and peppers on the plants until Saturday to get the maximum amount of sun and warmth before I start removing the plants.
The weather has been dry for much of the country for the last month or so. If you did plant any new trees, shrubs or ornamental plants this fall, be sure that they have received adequate water.
This past weekend I was pulling out a number of annual plants and it was amazing how dry the soil was. Sometimes we forget about watering plants in the fall, even though sometimes it is necessary at this time.
If you were planning to seed this fall, but just haven’t had the time, I suggest waiting until after the first hard freeze. Dormant seeding, or sowing grass seed in the winter, will work and germinate next spring.
Sowing seed now may result in some germination, but the new seed is very tender and will easily freeze. The other word of caution is to not apply a crabgrass preventer next spring as that material will prevent your new seed from germinating as well.
I like fall weather, the changing colors of the leaves and I actually do like pulling out all the annuals and vegetable plants so that I can start all over next year. I will try new plants and new designs next year. There is always some new color or new cultivar that I need to try. To me, that is what gardening is all about, change.
Do you have questions about precautions you should take as the frost moves in? Contact your neighborhood lawn care professional at Spring-Green.