​There is a time for everything and timing in the garden is one we must not skip. For instance, when to harvest your veggies, especially potatoes and even when to plant whatever produce you may want to eat in the spring and fall.
 
Today, however, I want to share with you how I cut my garden hydrangeas to later on in near the holiday season make flower arrangements or Christmas wreaths. There are other methods people use to dry these flowers; by leaving the flower arrangement in the vase with water until it evaporates, or by using silica, a product you can find at the craft store.
 
I personally wait until early fall to cut my blooms, so that they still have some color.
Then I hang them upside down in a nice cold place like my garage or basement.
When they finally dried out, the flower and leaves will become very fragile, therefore, handle with care.
 
Finally, keep them hanging until I decide the project that I am going to use them.
 
In my following gardening post, I will make a neutral holiday wreath using the natural color that I ended up getting in my flowers.
 
Then at a later time, I will do another post converting that same wreath into a Christmas wreath. Therefore, stay tuned… Smile.

FALL HACK # 1: DIVIDE YOUR PERENNIALS

• Early fall is a good time to divide most perennials, depending on the zone you live. You will know is time to divide when you see that your plant is growing, however, looks dead or empty in the center.
• Google the name of the plants that are showing the empty centers and get the information on how to divide them and exactly when. Then share some of the divided excess with family, neighbors and friends.

 
FALL HACK # 2: GARDEN CLEAN-UP

• Walk through your garden and pull all dead plants. Caution, some of those may have seeds that you can collect for next year. Make sure they are totally dry and place them in a well labeled tight glass container so moisture wont ruin them.
• Also, gather all the fallen branches from your property trees and assess for safety. Trees are beautiful, however, extremely dangerous.

 
FALL HACK # 3: MULCH

• Not many things look prettier in the fall garden that a clean recently mulch property. The front of the house, the base of the trees and shrubs.
• My favorite is the dark brown, almost black. It looks so impressive next to the green lawn.
• There are all kinds of colors and types, even rubber much. It’s all about what you like. Therefore, go to the garden center, select your mulch and either contract someone to spread it or DIY. Smile!
• Clean and close out your lawn mower until next year. Yippee!

 
FALL HACK # 4:  FILL BARE SPOTS WITH NEW FALL PLANTS
 Plant fall plant material such as bulbs, winter cabbage, kale, etc.
 
FALL HACK # 5: LAWN
Finally, do not forget your lawn. If you have bare spots, now is the time to fill them, the weather will cooperate. Get seeds and soil to cover them.

I am sure that you agree with me in this following statement. 2020 has been an awful year and it is time to make it run its course to end as soon as possible this December 31. That will give us all a fresh start in 2021 and hopefully, with a significant reduction or elimination of COVID-19.
 
Anyway, fall is the pumpkin, dried corn and brown leaves season. These colors last about a month and then, transition into December, where the red and green colors rules.
 
For now, let’s just enjoy the decorations that some of my neighbors have put out. If you have not done yours yet, just make it happen soon, it will change your quarantine sad mood into a happy one.
 
Cheers and have fun decorating!