It’s Past Time To Come Clean

Baby, it’s cold outside.

For all procrastinators, whose sprinkler systems haven’t been shut off, whose hoses are frozen to the ground, whose tools lay where they were last used, Mother Nature has given us a reprieve. This “heat wave” affords us a chance to collect, cover and store before everything is blanketed in white.

For now, forget about digging the dahlias. They’re hardening off underground and we’ll dig them in a week or so. Right now we need to accomplish the clean-up tasks.

Watering apparatus: Before sprinkler lines shatter and water dripping from the faucet freezes into a long icicle, shut off the outside water and blow out the sprinkler lines. The “blowing out the lines” part is best handled by a professional. If you’re on the waiting list, shut off the water to the system and open up all hose bibs (faucets) connected to the system.

If hoses still bend easily, drain, roll and store them. If they’re too stiff, drag them to a warm area, such as the kitchen.

Roll the hose, secure it with a piece of twine and store it away. Don’t hang the hose itself from nails. Instead, knot the end of the twine used to secure the hose and hang the hose from the knot.

If hoses are in need of repair, jot it down on a winter project to-do list.

Collect all the sprinklers and nozzles. Wash off any debris, check to make sure the washers are in good shape (replace them now if necessary) and store them away.

One note: Before you turn off the water and store the hoses, make sure all plants under the eaves of the house and under trees are well-watered.

Plants: All those last-minute purchases should be in the ground by now. If the harsh weather has caught you with new plants and beds not quite ready for them, simply heel the plants, container and all, into the ground. If the weather stays comfortable, continue to plant and make sure they’re well-watered. Mark plants, especially perennials with little stakes. The first leaves up in the spring often look like weeds.

If your mail-order bulbs haven’t arrived yet, dig a wide hole, collecting the soil into buckets. Store the soil where it won’t freeze. If the ground is not workable once the bulbs arrive, crowd them all together in the hole and cover with the stored soil. It certainly won’t be the spring display you were looking for, but this method will save the bulbs.

And finally it’s time for the last mowing of the season. Don’t scalp the lawn, leave it about one inch tall. Clean and service the mower before storing it for the winter. If you don’t have time to service it, at least wash it down. Add the servicing chore to the winter to-do list.

Rake leaves and needles: This is such an enjoyable time of the season - out in the crisp air, visiting with neighbors across the fence, kids (or the kid in us) jumping into piles of leaves.

Leaves and needles make great mulch over perennials and around shrubs and roses. Leaves also make super compost. In fact, leaf mold is one of the very best.

In an out-of-the-way corner of the yard, create a compost pile. Begin with about six inches of leaves. Over the top, add a thin layer of soil, a few handfuls of 21-0-0 and lime. Continue this layering process until all the leaves are used. Next fall, add this decomposed material to the flower beds and vegetable garden and start the process all over again with next fall’s leaves.

You can also mow over the leaves, cutting them into small pieces. Collect and till them into the garden this fall.

Needles can also be used this way, but it takes them much longer to break down. They are best-used as winter protection over and around plants.

Now where did I put that winter project list?

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Phyllis Stephens The Spokesman-Review