The hot and humid summer afternoons ended last March 20th. The current season is fallfamous for longer nights, low temperatures, increased winds and the traditional fall of foliage.
Thanks to the popular song by the duo Sandy and Junior, everyone already knows that “the fall it’s always the same, the leaves fall in the backyard”, but what to do with the dry leaves on the ground? Is it better to leave them there? To recall?
To answer these and other questions, we talked to the landscaper Luciano Zanardo and we list some tips for keeping the garden healthy this time of year.
At the end, you also get a natural insecticide recipe made with onion syruptaught by the gardener Carol Costafrom the website My Plants.
1. Be careful not to overload the land
Plants begin to go dormant during autumn, so during this period special care is needed not to overload the soil with nutrients and water. In general, attention is needed with irrigation, pruning and fertilization.
2. Decrease watering slightly
With the drop in temperature, the plants lose less water, so watering should be reduced slightly. If the soil is waterlogged, the dormancy process will be impaired and fungus can develop.
3. Wait for April to pass and schedule the pruning for May or June
Legend has it that trees must be pruned in the months that don’t have the letter «r» in their name. According to common sense, plants sleep during these periods, so cutting can be done without them feeling or dying. Although not scientifically proven, the rule works in practice, the trees pruned in these months are healthy and grow with more strength and vigor. So it’s worth waiting for the month of April to end and scheduling the pruning for May or June.
4. Remove excess branches and leaves during pruning
The dormancy process, which begins in autumn, lasts throughout the winter. To ensure the health of the plants in the cold months ahead, it is possible to take some measures. One of them is to remove excess branches and leaves during pruning, this action facilitates the penetration of sunlight, so the tree stores more energy to be used during the dormancy period.
5. Fertilize every 20 days
Fertilization should be carried out every 20 days during autumn. The ideal is to use organic fertilizers, such as earthworm humus, castor bean cake and bone meal.
6. Take the dry leaves to compost
Dry leaves must be removed from the garden. A good idea is to collect it, take it to compost and then use it as fertilizer. Here you will find a step-by-step video on how to set up a compost bin at home.
7. Enlarge the garden with colorful flowers
If your desire is to enlarge the garden, sunflowers are a great option. Besides them, dahlias, nasturtiums and campanulas.
8. Beware of fungi and pests
You need to be aware of some fungi and pests typical of the season, such as aphids, red spider mites and white flies. Below you can see the step by step of a natural insecticide made with onion syrup. In addition to this recipe, others that use coriander and chamomile also work against these infestations.
Recipe: Natural insecticide with onion syrup
Learn how to make the simple recipe at home that keeps aphids, spider mites and mealybugs away from your plants – and without poisoning your family with chemicals!
Ingredients:
– 2 large onions
– 1 liter of water
Way of doing:
– Peel the onions and cut them into medium cubes, enough so that they do not get tangled in the blender.
– Add 1 liter of water and beat the onions in a blender until it turns into a paste.
– Strain and spray the syrup on the plants once a week, never during strong sunlight.
– Store leftovers in the freezer for up to six months.