One of the most important things that gardeners and homeowners can do yet this fall is help prepare their gardens and perennial plants for winter. Some work now will help ensure good plant survival and health for next year, as well as having a lot of work done that you won’t need to do next spring when soil conditions may not be as good.

An opportunity to learn more about fall garden tasks is taking place on Thursday, October 4^th starting at 5 p.m. at the Harmony Arboretum Demonstration Gardens. The Gardens are located 7 miles west of Marinette, ½ mile south of Hwy. 64 on Marinette County E. Scott Reuss, UW-Extension Horticulture Agent, will be leading the discussion and demonstration activities.

Some of the more important fall garden/landscape activities that will be discussed and shown include: Helping your plants shut down properly; Mulching for winter hardiness and/or weed control; Preventing varmint damage to woody perennials; and Late season watering. Attendees will also be able to review and ask about end of year vegetable garden activities such as vegetable and fruit harvesting and storage, as well as planting of garlic or cover crops.

This workshop is free for all to attend, with many publications regarding these topics being provided as well. For more information about these or other gardening topics, please contact Scott Reuss at the Marinette County UW-Extension office, 715-732-7510. You can also e-mail Scott at scott.reuss@ces.uwex.edu and can even send digital photos of plant problems you are finding for diagnosis and management options.