Leave the Leaves
Fallen leaves can be an excellent addition to compost, or mulch them in place with a mulching mower to provide nutrients over the winter. Not only will you benefit your soil, you will reduce carbon emissions involved with removal of leaves from your property! For more info, see: https://mgofmc.org/fall-leaves-love-em-and-leave-em/ (Photo credit: Courtesy of C. Hogan)
First frost dates in Mercer County occur between October 21st and 31st on average. Bring green tomatoes in before a frost. They will ripen nicely in a paper bag. (Photo credit: “Green Tomato” by alcides OTA is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)
Native garden plants can serve as source of food for birds during the winter as well as providing hollow stems for native bees and other insects. Welcome winter visitors: Support a wholesome ecosystem by not doing too good of a job “cleaning” this fall. Leave healthy stems and grasses in place for wildlife. Perennial stalks and ornamental grasses not only add interest to the winter landscape but also serve as hiding places for insect-eating toads and loads of over-wintering beneficial insects. (Photo credit: “Autumn 2005” by Paul of Congleton is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Spotted Lantern Fly is a newly invasive insect that threatens New Jersey agriculture and has been sighted in Mercer County. Adults may be found feeding on many hosts, especially tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissma). See it, report it. To help survey efforts, the general public should report sightings (with photograph) to slanternfly@njaes.rutgers.edu.
For lots of helpful information about this insect, see Spotted Lanternfly (Rutgers NJAES)
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