November
7, 2001
Short On
Time, Long On Desire...
If only there were a few more hours in the day! Since
the time change I feel as if I have been cheated with spending
more time outside piddling in my gardens. I can not believe
this weather! I think this is the nicest fall we have had
in some time and it sounds as if it may continue a while
longer. I have been busily working in the yard mainly
taking care of all of the leaves and planting the rest of my
bulbs. I have had to replant a few bulbs because my new
best friend (Sam Parker the beagle) thinks that it is so much fun
watching me dig in the ground that he took it upon himself to
help out in a couple of areas. What a guy!
I am
already so excited about spring. In the seven years we have
lived in this house this will be the first that we will have
"spring interest" in every garden. By adding some
new garden space and continuing to fill the old, I finally feel
like I have enough bulbs in the ground to give the showing I have
always wanted. Slowly but surely I am putting together an
all-season garden. It has been a lot of hard work and
planning but I thing it is coming together quite nicely.
Kevin has been busy doing some exterior work to the house -
scraping old paint and applying new. It is amazing how a
clean coat of paint brings something back to life. I always
joke with my friends about how our house in a continual project
yet I enjoy working to improve our home and the way it
looks. It is home after all and a house that Kevin,
our children and I love. Kind of sappy huh?
Speaking of
new gardening space, Kevin installed the cutest picket fence this
past weekend to help keep Sam Parker in the yard. All I can
think about is what I am going to plant around and on it.
Of course I have all of these great ideas running through my head
- climbing roses (this part of the yard gets full sun), Clematis
and maybe even some shrubs to keep the dog from digging
out. Big plans but not enough sunlight during the
day. A bridge I will cross next spring.
I hope you
are enjoying this weather. I am at my best when I am able
to be outside working in the soil or just looking at the
beautiful blue sky and all of the vibrant fall foliage.
When I step out of the house first thing in the morning and get a
great big whiff of that fall smell (you know the one I am talking
about) it fills my body with well being. Oh how it is great
for my soul and mind to be a gardener!
~
Shelly
Seed
Saving Savvy...
After you have collected seeds from your favorite flowers and
vegetables be careful how you store them. The general rule
for seed storage is cool and dry. A seed is actually a
living infant plant with a limited amount of food to sustain it
until it germinates. Warm storage temperatures may let it
consume too much food and damp temperatures may encourage mold or
bacteria to use some of the food and kill the plant. Dry
seeds in a paper envelope will not trap moisture, and kept in a
cool and dry place, will survive well so you may plant them next
year.
Source
Christmas
Tree B & B...
It may seem a little early to be thinking about Christmas
trees but if you are considering a live, balled & burlapped
tree that will be planted after the holiday you should start
planning now. It's time now to choose the planting spot
and, more importantly, dig the hole for it. If you wait too
long the ground may be frozen by the time you think about it
again.
After you
dig the hole fill it with leaves or straw to protect against any
early freezing (you might also cover it with plywood if the hole
presents an injury or accident risk). Keep the dirt from
the hole in a garage or shed so you have some loose soil to use
during planting.
Pip,
Pip, Hooray...
An interesting but seldom used flower for forcing is
lily-of-the-valley. You can buy commercially prepared
lily-of-the-valley "pips" from your florist or garden
center. Plant as many as possible in pots for an abundance
of fragrant blooms this winter. In addition to their beauty
and fragrance lily-of-the-valley pips tolerate more heat than
many other commonly forced bulbs.
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Close
Quarters...
It may seem strange but your amaryllis bulbs may not bloom if
they are in too large a pot. Ideally there should be no
more than one inch of space on each side of the bulb. While
you're at it make sure that at least one third of the bulb is
above the soil line.
Clean
Cutters...
Your shears and loppers are probably getting a good workout
as you tidy up the garden and landscape. Keep them in good
working order by wiping them with a rag dipped in paint thinner
to remove sticky resins. Regular sharpening and a periodic thorough
oiling will help the better tools last forever.
Gardening
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Winter
Wisdom...
What's Hot on the Hotline is officially closed for the season
and will resume next spring. Beginning this week we will
bring you Winter Wisdom - interesting garden related subjects to
keep you interested and informed through the winter months.
A description of the K-State Research & Extension resources
(including their reference library and InfoLine) can be found in this
week's Winter
Wisdom...
Fertilizer
Finale...
A November application of fertilizer is extremely important
to keep your lawn healthy and looking good this fall and next
year. Late fall Nitrogen promotes good root development,
enhances storage of energy reserves, and extends color retention
this fall. Most of the benefits from late fall Nitrogen
will be seen next spring and summer with earlier green-up,
improved density, and improved tolerance to diseases and other
stresses. Apply near or after your last mowing of the year,
but while grass is still green. Timing is not overly
critical as there may be a month or more between your last mowing
and the time the grass turns brown or goes under snow
cover. Generally the first few weeks of November present
the best time to apply. Recent Purdue
University research suggests that to be most effective the
Nitrogen must be taken-up by the plant before winter.
Therefore, use a soluble Nitrogen source such as urea, ammonium
nitrate, or ammonium sulfate and apply 1 to 1½ lbs. N/1000 sq.
ft.
Source
Finally... "The
great challenge for the garden designer is not to make the garden
look natural, but to make the garden so that the people in it
will feel natural." ~
Lawrence Halprin - Landscape Architect |