How to help your garden make the transition from summer to winter

Soon it will be fall planting season -How to make the transition from summer to fall in urban gardens? With the greening of N.Y.C.'s rooftops, terraces, tree wells, courtyards and other new and exciting places that are sprouting greenery, it becomes a challenge for a building owner to know how to handle these spaces as the season changes and the results start to appear in the landscape. While some items in the landscape may flourish with the change in season - grass, for instance, loves the cooler temperatures - many other landscape elements begin to die back. Tree wells, for instance, are the first thing many people see when approaching a building. They usually have Impatiens in them. These may be the first to go - often looking stretched and defoliated as the temperature drops. In today's economic climate where attracting and retaining tenants is essential, first impressions count more than ever and neglecting this element could leave the property looking unkempt. It's best to be proactive with tree wells and not wait too long; one cold day and they will look awful. Have your landscaper remove the summer flowers and bring in beautiful mums. These versatile blooms are great as they aren't too expensive and offer brilliant color. Other areas start to decline as well. Ornamental grasses can begin to fall over, roses can stop blooming, and perennials die back. All of this can leave a building's garden looking bare. What to do? First, have your irrigation company come by and adjust your irrigation system if you have it and/or close it down altogether for the winter. If your lawn doesn't look good due to drought or just wear and tear this summer, it's a good time to reseed it, de-thatch it, and put down a winter application of fertilizer. You may have great new teak furniture on your deck, but do you know how to treat it properly to weather the fall and winter? If you need to leave it out, it should be treated. Teak can really take a beating during the winter, so it's best to bring it inside for storage until the spring if you have the space. Teresa Carleo is president and CEO of Plant Fantasies Inc., New York, N.Y.