My body is starting breathe a sigh of relief as the fall garden chores are almost complete. The furniture is put away, clay pots brought into the dry to prevent them from cracking, geraniums brought inside; the grapefruit and lemon trees have been wrestled back into their winter quarters in a dining room, which is too small for them. Winter protection is an intensive time.

The list of jobs is much longer of course and there always seems to be something else that you forget but for the most part, it is good to just look out the window and be thankful for some rain that is coming down today. All plants need that long drink before winter. Hopefully it will be a very long drink. We have been in a drought situation for such a long time, while gardens in Vancouver are being washed away. Roots need the moisture for protection even though the plant is becoming dormant. Dehydration kills the plant cells.

This week I removed the covers off my grow tunnels. I must sing their praises as it is the first time I have used this particular type. They were reasonably priced, easy to set up and I could get into them. They were not intended to protect from carrot fly or cold.  They protected from my dogs and any other larger creatures who took a fancy to what was growing within. They reduced wind damage and sun scald.  The zipped doors were easy to leave open or tie up as required. Removing the green mesh covers for winter storage was easy and the frames will stay in place until next spring. These tunnels fit perfectly over my 4’ x 8’ slightly raised beds but do come in other sizes.

Grow tunnels come in all types of course, large, small, plastic and glass, in the form of cloches, which used to be popular in the UK when I was young. I don’t know if they are still used other than in restored, historically correct Victorian gardens. Protective devices for plants come in all manner of shapes and sizes depending on need and growing conditions. These days we are spoiled for choice.

My son-in-law built hoops to manage different types of covers. When covered in row cover such as remay, they work wonders to keep the carrot fly at bay. Row cover is almost an essential for spring and fall for frost protection but can be problematic if no structure is in place to hold it, when it is windy. Low tunnels such as these are usually in place for a short time each year and I needed something for the entire season so plants could grow to maturity. These tunnels fit the brief and were not expensive.

My last job today is to layer leaves and we have many, over the soil as a winter mulch. They will partially rot down over winter and will prevent early weed growth. In spring I will remove any excess and put in the compost to finish decomposing.