Preparing the flower beds for fall

‘Putting your garden to bed’

While fall means many of the summer produce and flowers are winding down for the season, it’s also a pleasant time to work ahead and prepare your garden for winter and spring.

Popular flowers like dahlia tuber varieties, although perennials, are dug up and brought indoors to dry at this time to avoid damage from Michigan frost. Once dried, the tubers can be packed in a dark, cool location with materials like peat moss or vermiculite used for moisture and nutrient retention.