While veggie gardens emerge in the spring, flourish in summer, fade away in the fall and disappear underground for the winter, the trees in our landscapes remain standing. They provide structure and shade, habitat for wildlife, and seasonal interest through their flowers, fruit, and foliage. And while they change throughout the year, their presence is always felt.
In the fall, broadleaved trees undergo dramatic transformation with the loss of their leaves. These discarded leaves are a valuable commodity for gardeners. If you are building a compost pile using greens from your vegetable patch clean-up, leaves can be used as layers of browns in between. They can be used as mulch on flower and veggie beds, preventing the ground from losing valuable moisture, and providing habitat for over-wintering insects. For both these purposes, its best to use lighter textured, crispier leaves that will crumble and decompose easily – birch leaves are perfect. Tougher leaves like poplar can tend to mat in wet layers, inhibiting necessary air flow.
Many trees can be pruned in the winter after their leaves are gone. It’s much easier to see the structure and shape when the branches are bare. And in fact, elm trees can only be pruned between October 1 and March 31, in order to avoid the spread of Dutch Elm Disease.
Consider trees as part of your garden ecosystem and use them to your advantage. They are incredibly important elements of a diverse landscape. If water restrictions allow, it’s a great idea to water them in well for the winter. You can also direct down spouts towards the drip line of your trees to take advantage of natural precipitation.
You can see examples of fall clean-up, composting, and mulching at the CKE Community Garden.
Happy gardening!
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