It’s September, in one of the loveliest seasons in Mony-Tremblant. But let’s be honest: by now, your garden may be looking a little shabby, and the bedraggled few will take impact away from your nice grasses and other attractive fall elements. So…take advantage of the lovely weekends and get the jump on your fall cleanup.

You can take dead growth off your perennials, and cut back “deadheads”— the stalks left by spent flowers. The seed heads on plants such as Echinacea, Echinops, and Rudbeckia are appreciated by birds, but many others can be removed.

Curb your enthusiasm and leave your shrubs alone, and don’t do a full fall cleanup yet. Plants need this period to go into dormancy. Trimming them now will just confuse them, and unless you know what you are doing with your shrubs, you may cut off next spring’s flower buds.

And – yes – do a full weeding. Get the roots or they’ll just come back bigger next year. Take a little time to get the weeds that are growing through your plants, as you can see them now. But if there are plants that are completely invaded, just say goodbye. In most cases, your time is not worth the trouble of cleaning them.

Last but not least, if your annuals are past their prime, pull them out! Empty your pots, give them a good scrub while it is still warm out, and put them away for next year. Incorporate the spent potting soil into your beds—and maybe some compost while you’re at it.

This is good work to do as a team, but if you are alone to do it, listening to a podcast or talking on the phone will make the time fly. Tidying things up now will make your late fall cleanup go much better. You’re welcome!

By the same author: Tree time (Click the image below)