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November 14, 2001

Holidays On The Horizon...
The date is November 14th and the weather could not be more perfect.  Don't you just love it?   So much for getting anything done inside the house.  I am afraid I will have to dust soon.  The children seem to be writing their names on pieces of furniture with their fingers (not a good sign.)  It is as dusty outside as it is inside.  I have been watering every few days for long periods of time.  I have spoken to several friends who have already drained their irrigation systems and have had to pull old hoses out of the depths of their garages so that they could give their gardens and lawn a drink.  Remember to be Savvy and keep that water coming.  Especially if the weather stays mild and we do not receive any rain.  It is funny how once the weather turns mild that watering doesn't seem to be such a concern.  I even find myself neglecting my flowerpots.  My pansies and mums are looking a little water deprived also.  So much to remember.  Who would have thought that we would still be doing so much gardening this time of the year?

If you haven't given it any thought there are only 40 shopping days left until Christmas.  Hard to believe.  Kevin and I will be at The Sweet Onion on Saturday November 24th from 10 AM - 2 PM to help you pick out the perfect Christmas tree.  You should have seen their trees last year.  Wow!  They were fabulous!  I can hardly wait to choose mine.  Proprietor Andrea Neumann encourages calls for pre-orders if you are interested.  If you don't need a tree come by anyway and see the displays of garland, wreaths and other holiday trinkets.  Or those of you who know me (or want to meet me) can stop in for a chat!  As always it will be lots of fun and we look forward to seeing you there.

Don't forget our other sponsors when it comes to purchasing Christmas trees and other holiday gift items.  Earl May will have their stores decked out for Christmas with all of the things necessary for the holidays.  The Barn at The Kelly Gallery offers ornamental items for inside and out.  All great places to shop for the gardeners in your family.

I ran into one of my "gym" acquaintances this morning and we were talking about kids and come to find out she is one of our subscribers.  I was thrilled as you can imagine.  Thanks Peggy for being a loyal reader and don't forget to spread the word!

~ Shelly  

Cold Storage At You Feet...
Looking for a good place to store root crops?  Just look down!  Carrots, radishes, turnips and Jerusalem artichokes store well outdoors in the ground.  Just before the ground freezes, bury them under a deep layer of leaves or straw to protect the ground from freezing.  Simply harvest them as needed during winter by pulling back this protective mulch and digging them up.  Just make sure you replace the mulch after each visit!

Cold Cuts...
Now that we've got a couple of killing frosts under our belts it's time to do some cutting back of dormant perennials.  Cut them back to about 3 inches above the soil surface.  Once the ground is frozen, they can be mulched to guard against displacement due to soil heaving.  These simple steps will help ensure a successful show of foliage and color next season.

Mice + Mulch = Mischief...
Mice and other rodents like to creep around and underneath mulched areas. Who can blame them?  It's warm there!  But they can be mischievous little creatures too.  To prevent them from gnawing on your tree trunks and shrubs keep mulch pulled back several inches from the bases of your trees and shrubs.

 


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When Fruits And Vegetables Don't Get Along...
If you decide to store your vegetables indoors (instead of in the ground like we mentioned above) make sure you don't place them with any apples or pears.  As they sit these fruits give off ethylene gas which speeds up the breakdown of vegetables and causes them to develop off-flavors.  Yuck!

Turf Tips by Chris Karcher...
It's definitely time to at least think about preparing for winter.  Just because the lawn is going to stop growing don't think your work is done.  Chris spells it out in "Now What Do I Do?" - a close look at the lawn related work to be done now and even into winter.

 


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Winter Wisdom...
The growing season is surely winding down but our friends at the K-State Extension remind us of a number of things we can still do to keep our lawns and gardens growing into next season.  From fertilizing, to bulb planting, to seed scarification... you will find these timely tips in this week's Winter Wisdom... 

There's No Mold Like Snow Mold...
One of the main problems facing lawns over winter is snow mold disease.  Remember all the crusty patches early last spring as the snow melted away?  Lawns left very high for the winter, along with being covered with debris such as leaves, are prime candidates for damage.  Other factors increasing the chances for snow mold include excess nitrogen fertilizer, shade, poor drainage, and excess thatch.  

You can prevent heavy snow mold development by cleaning up fallen leaves and other debris from your lawn.  Make sure the lawn is not too tall (but not too short either) as winter sets in - about 2½ to 3 inches should do.  Also avoid packing down snow cover on lawns, as slowly melting areas may be more prone to snow mold early next spring.

Finally...
"November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.
"

~ Clyde Watson - Author

 

 

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