Frost Warning & Autumn Perennial Care Guide for Lakeshore Gardens

With overnight temperatures projected to dip near 28°F across Allegan County and the Kalamazoo River valley this coming weekend, the SDGC Horticulture Committee advises members and local gardeners to protect tender specimens and prepare perennial borders for the winter dormant season.

Recommended Steps:

1. Container Plants & Tropicals: Move potted geraniums, coleus, citrus, and succulents indoors immediately into bright, indirect sun.
2. Mulching Root Zones: Apply 2 to 3 inches of shredded hardwood or pine straw mulch around newly planted perennials, shrubs, and roses once the ground begins to freeze. Avoid piling mulch directly against woody stems.
3. Hydration Before Freezes: Water deeply before the first hard freeze. Moist soil retains heat significantly longer than desiccated soil, buffering sensitive root systems against freezing injury.
4. Leave Seed Heads for Wildlife: Resist shearing down coneflowers (Echinacea), black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), and ornamental grasses; their seed heads supply essential forage for overwintering goldfinches, chickadees, and native pollinators.

For questions, feel free to speak with a Master Gardener member at our upcoming general membership meeting.