Proper fall clean-up cultivates healthy spring gardens

Proper fall clean-up cultivates healthy spring gardens A Baker’s Dozen Easy Steps to a Healthy Garden by Jeff Pieper, Extension Agent for CSU Extension in Eagle County There is an undeniable nip of fall in the air, and to some, that nip signals the end of golf or perhaps hiking season, but to the gardener, it is a signal to prepare for spring. Everything you do or don’t do in the fall will directly affect your spring garden. Pests and diseases reside in the soil and plant debris, so if you want your spring garden to have a healthy start, you need to put your fall garden to bed properly.   Thirteen simple steps will get you there. Step 1: Cut back and protect perennials C ut down perennials to within a couple of inches of the ground as they die back, to tidy up the garden and to remove any pests and diseases, taking care to discard any diseased plant material. Divide overgrown clumps of perennials and replant them while the soil is still warm to improve the health and appearance of th