In this mixed up fall — August in September, November in October, October in November — you never know when the last day for gardening will occur. Here I was all set (perhaps even a bit eager) to call it quits, and along comes a pleasant weekend, so the jobs I was ready to not do, got done. The last of the pots were emptied and cleaned, the trimmed dogwood branches were taken to the Rice County compost pile (Northfield’s closed Nov. 15), and I watered all my new plantings one last time.
I even found an inventive way to get the hose wound up and put away. The hoses we have tend to get twisted, so I undid all the crimps and twists and laid the hose on the driveway (which is slightly angled) to drain. Then, standing in the garage so not too many neighbors would see, I put the hose at my waist and started turning around. Other than having to stop once because I was getting dizzy, the method worked wonderfully — the hose was carefully wound around my middile, it slid off in a neat circle, and it was easy to stow.
I hope you saved some for your winter containers!
I did save some soil for the winter pots!
After draining hoses, another way to prepare them for winter storage is to wrap them around a 5-gallon bucket, remove the bucket, and use plastic ties to keep the hoses contained…Save the possible embarrassment of being seen by the neighbors when wrapping them around your waist as well as eliminating dizziness from turning around…
Good suggestion, Don!
Great hose wrapping technique – tell your neighbours it is a new form of hula-hooping – the latest craze!