What perennials need to be replaced? If you have a plant with a dead center that needs to be dug, the center removed and the healthy part of the plant moved.

Likewise are there plants that need to be replaced. My Shasta daisies have not had a good season. Next spring I need to replace them in new amended soil.

Don’t be too tidy. Our pollinators need the perennials to hibernate for the winter.

Don’t fertilize your plants. They need quiet rest. Fertilizer sends them the signal to grow. Compost is not a fertilizer but a soil amendment that can be placed on the soil around the plant. Be sure and keep the compost 2 inches from the base of the plant. No volcano mulching.

We have had a wonderful season in the garden. Clean your tools well and tidy your planting bench or garden shed while you enjoy these last warm and sunny days.

Rebecca Norton Ryan is a Penn State Extension Master Gardener and member of the Warren Garden Club.