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August
28, 2002 |
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Changing
and Rearranging...
I have been spending some serious time in the garden here of
late. The weather has been ideal for toiling in the dirt.
Cool mornings, warmer days, lower humidity and cooler evenings.
My type of weather. I have been busy transplanting. I
have moved some daylilies that were not getting enough sun from
the side garden to the new sun-filled front garden.
It is so much fun! It is kind of like rearranging the
furniture. Everything takes on a new look and feel.
Now all I need to do is replace the plants that I have
transplanted. That part always makes Kevin a little
nervous. Out to our sponsors' to buy more things to plant.
This time of the year is always so exciting. The change
of the season. It inspires me differently than spring does.
It makes me think of the future - what to plant for the next
three months and what to plant for next spring. There is
always so much to choose from when it comes to planting.
Fall is perfect for planting trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs.
It is often difficult to decide exactly what all to plant.
Be prepared, have a good plan. Know ahead of time what it
is you are looking for. Planning ahead will give you more
time to spend in the garden. Of course if you are like
Kevin and I, you will probably plant a little of all the above.
As you know, there is never enough time in the garden for us.
~
Shelly
Clean
Cut...
As summer winds down and the weather slowly cools you will
find that your grass is growing again - maybe at an alarming
rate! Make sure your mower blade is well sharpened before
the mowing becomes a twice weekly event. A sharp mower
blade is essential for a healthy and attractive lawn.
Colorful
Closers...
Mums are a gardener's best friend in the fall. As the
latest blooming flowers they provide color and beauty to a garden
that has otherwise been worn out for the season.
When
choosing mums from your local retailer buy healthy looking plants
that have been taken care of - no broken stems, wilted leaves,
etc... Plants with existing blooms will be limited in their
ability to provide much more flowering. Those with buds
about to bloom will provide you with flowers into the fall.
We usually buy several plants in bloom for immediate
gratification and quite a few more that we expect to bloom over
the coming weeks. What a great exclamation point at the end
of the season!
Nuisance
of the Week - Bagworms
Bagworms can cause a great deal of damage during their last few
weeks of feeding and gardeners may be tempted to spray for them.
Unfortunately, late August sprays are totally
ineffective. Understanding the life cycle of this moth will
explain why and can help tremendously in planning effective
control measures. You will find photos and more details in Nuisance
of the Week.
Tater
Tidbits...
If you're harvesting potatoes remember that they will
continue to grow as long as the tops are green. So dig only
as many as you need for immediate use. The ones left in the
ground will actually keep better there than in your home.
Making
The Cut...
When your plants fall victim to disease one of the first
courses of action is the removal of the diseased portions.
Careful! The same pruners that you use to cut away diseased
foliage can then transfer the disease to otherwise healthy
plants. It is generally recommended that a one in ten
solution of bleach and water be used to disinfect pruners.
Rather than keep a bucket of solution nearby try mixing the
solution in a small spray bottle. Carry it with you and
spray your pruners after each cut.
What's
Hot On The Hotline...
As we stated in last week's article, from a gardener's point
of view, non-venomous snakes are a valuable asset and should be
protected. They are one of nature's most efficient and
successful insect and rodent foes. In our area, and
in several other states, their value is recognized and they are
protected by state law. Find out about the snakes that
might be lurking in your garden in this
week's What's
Hot on the Hotline...
Good To
The Core...
Whether you're seeding, overseeding, or leaving well enough alone
you should consider core aerating your lawn in the coming weeks.
Core aerating is an effective way to provide a channel through
which air, fertilizer and water can enter the soil. This
channel, cut through the thatch layer and into the soil, helps
reduce soil compaction, increase root growth and redistribute
soil on the upper surface of the thatch.
Make sure
your soil is prepared for the aeration process. It should
be sufficiently moist so that the coring machine can penetrate.
Rule of thumb - If a screwdriver can be pushed by hand 3 inches
into the ground, the soil is about right. Don't soak it
though. Soils that are too wet will clog the hollow tines
of the aerator and prevent core removal.
Once
finished you will have a lawn covered with somewhat strange
looking soil cores. Leave them on the lawn to create a more
favorable environment for breakdown of the thatch layer by
naturally occurring soil microbes.
Source
Finally... "A
man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human
life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he
will never sit." ~
Elton Trueblood, Author, (1900-1994) |