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October 17, 2001

The Sky Is Falling...
What a crazy week!  Kevin has been out on the road so I have been manning the house by myself.  I have been trying to find time to plant more bulbs.  The ground has been either too wet or I have just not been able to find the time.  After putting the kids to bed at night, my only free time seems to be from 9:00 to 10:00 PM.  I am not quite sure (especially these last two nights) that gardening in the dark and cold would be either good for me or my garden.  Procrastination set in last year and I am really trying to fight it off this year.  It sounds like we might have a few mild days ahead so this is the week to finish planting bulbs.  I know, maybe you could e-mail me a reminder!

The leaves are falling like crazy in our neck of the woods.  It is this time of the year that I wish I lived in a new sub-division out south.  For those of us who live in neighborhoods with more mature trees you know exactly what I am talking about.  Leaf gathering is a constant project.  Just when you think all of the leaves are out of the yard, along comes a gust of wind and blows a few hundred more out of the trees.  Funny how this part of fall clean-up becomes excitement for everyone in the family.  The kids cannot resist the thought of running and jumping through piles of leaves that I have worked so hard to rake together.  Even the dog is against me.  He has been watching the kids so he now knows to wait until I have shut off the blower to scatter the leaves about.  I have to admit that they are all so cute and it is hard to be upset with everyone enjoying themselves.  The raking of leaves is a hard and laborious job but what a great way to spend some time with the family!

~ Shelly  

Moving The Mums...
Your potted mums can be transplanted into the garden for many years of enjoyment.  For best results, transplant them into well-drained soil as winter injury is most common when mums are planted in poorly-drained soils.  Potted mums are often grown in a mix that is very high in organic matter.  If these are planted in very heavy clay soil without first amending it, the difference between the two soil situations often prevents good root establishment and increases the chance of winter kill.  

After the leaves have turned brown, cut back the tops and apply a loose airy mulch several inches thick allowing light to get to the small basal shoots during the winter. The purpose of this mulch is to provide wind protection and keep the soil shaded and frozen so that frost heaving is minimized.  This protective mulch may be removed or pulled away from the crown by early to mid-April after danger of severe cold is past.

Source

Chemical Container Care...
Temperatures have been mild lately but they will be dropping again before too long.  When they do be sure to check for any lawn and garden chemicals that might freeze in their containers.  Frozen liquids can break jars and split plastic containers, spreading concentrated chemicals within reach of children or pets.  Move them to a safe storage place where temperatures will not reach freezing.  

Deer Deterrents... 
To protect your young trees from deer damage, there are a number of deterrents you can try.  Hang bars of strong-scented soap, mesh bags filled with human hair, paper bags of dried blood (bloodmeal), or strips cut from white plastic bags on trees that are likely to be attacked.  Remember, deer will become accustomed to most any deterrent, so alternating items will help.

Source

 


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Squash Storage...
Pumpkins, butternut, and Hubbard squash need curing after harvest.  Cure them at temperatures between 70° to 80°F for two to three weeks immediately after harvest.  After curing, store them in a dry place at 55° to 60°F.  If stored at 50°F or below, pumpkins and squashes are subject to damage by chilling.  At temperatures above 60F, they gradually lose moisture and become stringy.

Source

Readying The Water Garden...
Fall means extra work for Savvygardeners with water gardens.  Falling leaves and falling temperatures should be met with the following actions: 

  • Try to keep falling leaves and twigs out of the pond to prevent injury to the fish.
  • Be sure to feed fish extra food when temperatures cool and continue until the water temperature drops below 45°F.  This allows the fish to build up additional fat stores for winter survival.  
  • Stop fertilizing water garden plants when the daytime water temperature drops below 60°F.  This will give plants the opportunity to go dormant.
  • Tropical water lilies and other non-hardy water plants can be over-wintered in various ways.  The goal is to keep the plant alive, but not growing vigorously.  Plants can be kept in a washtub, tank or even in an aquarium in a greenhouse or under artificial lights.  Light the plants for 12 to 18 hours each day.  Water temperature should be maintained around 70°F.

Source

 


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What's Hot On The Hotline...
The fall is widely recognized as the time of the year for rebuilding lawns, and a well-planned program of fertilizing plays an important role in the process.  Hotline callers are asking for details on this very important procedure.  Read about it in this week's What's Hot on the Hotline... 

If It's Growing We're Mowing...
When do Savvygardeners stop mowing their lawns? When the grass stops growing of course. As long as it continues to grow keep bluegrass cut to 2 inches and tall fescue to 2½ inches.  

Don't forget to keep the leaves from piling up and smothering the grass below!

Finally...
"
The milkweed pods are breaking, 
And the bits of silken down 
Float off upon the autumn breeze 
Across the meadows brown."

~ Cecil Cavendish, Poet, The Milkweed

 

 

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