POP
Some flowers in places protected from light frosts are still going strong, including roses (especially Knockouts), fall-blooming and repeat-blooming clematis hybrids, aster, boltonia, autumn joy sedum, biennials such as hollyhocks and hirta black-eyed Susans, and annuals. Wait until the plants give up before cutting them down.
Cut perennials when they lose ornamental value. Using a string trimmer, hand sickle, hedge trimmer, power lawn mower (on its highest setting) or hand clipper, cut the top growth of your perennials into as many pieces as possible. Allow 2-inch stubble from each plant to stick out of the ground. This will help you remember locations.
Except for major accumulations of leaves, leave the debris where it fell. It's nutritious as it decomposes.
Exceptions are areas where you have pest-prone plants, such as peonies, boxwoods and tall phloxes. Remove debris from these areas.
Dahlia culture is at its best with a late growing season. These plants will produce another flush of late-season blooms.
If you are going to dig them to propagate for next year, let these tender perennials freeze and blacken before harvesting, to ensure that tubers are as mature as possible.
With the late autumn, next year should be a bumper season for dahlias.
Clear leaves from areas where they are covering plants, such as low-growing azaleas, junipers, candytufts, hellebores and other evergreen ground covers that will lose foliage if a thick mat of debris is piled on them all winter.
Let leaves lie where they can help protect the roots of plants in winter, such as roses, mums, cannas and camellias.
Layers of leaves on the lawn will kill it, so rake and place those leaves into your compost pile. Mow lesser accumulations of leaves. They are nutritious for the turf, as the small particles fall between the blades, adding organic material and nutrients to the lawn.
And, finally, one solution for fall yard debris is a compost pile. Follow these simple steps:
Put organic material into a bin or a pile that is 3 to 4 feet square. Do not add meat scraps or diseased plants. Don't use vegetables in the nightshade family (tomatoes, peppers).
Arrange materials in alternating layers -- a 6-inch layer of leaves and twigs, then a 6-inch layer of grass, weeds and other herbaceous materials. Sprinkle three-quarters of a bucket of soil over the layers of leaves and grass.
Continue this process to a maximum height of 4 feet.
Keep the pile moist. Turn every five to six weeks. It will be ready by May.
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