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October 30, 2002

Where's My Sunshine?
The quote for this week (the last item in each newsletter) is also the inspiration for my editorial (the first item in each newsletter).  There is so much work to be done in the garden, I must start looking forward to Spring.  I have put off planting bulbs because it has been too wet.  Too wet to do much of anything in fact.  I have had a long list in hand consisting of bulb planting, cutting back perennials and starting to prepare the beds for winter.  I have to admit that this chilly, damp weather is not very motivating.  Not to mention that I am feeling a little sun deprived.  The sun always seems to motivate me a bit, especially when it comes to being outside in the garden.   It sounds as if we may not see the sun for at least a couple more days.  On top of that, it looks like we're in for some very cold nights late this week. Hopefully the forecast will hold together and we will get a chance to do some catch-up work this weekend.  I sure know that I have a lot to do and not much time before hard frosts are upon us.  Want, want, want!  I am always wanting more time for the garden.

For those of you with too much to do and oh so little time, don't forget about Patti Shirley and her great business In Your Home Cooking.  Leave it to Patti to work out the meal logistics.  I know that I have really enjoyed the extra time I have received not having to plan meals or getting to the grocery store.  What a lifesaver!

~ Shelly  

Viruses, Worms, Etc...
OK, not about gardening but important nonetheless. We've been asked by several Savvygardeners if we have been sending computer viruses.  Apparently e-mails that appear to be from Savvygardener.com are arriving in some inboxes with attachments that are flagged by anti-virus software.  Rest assured, we are definitely virus-free.  However there is a virus (actually a worm) out there called "Klez" that uses "spoofing" to trick recipients into opening an attachment.  The following example is from the Symantec Anti-Virus Website:

"Some variants of this worm (Klez) use a technique known as "spoofing."  If so, the worm randomly selects an address that it finds on an infected computer.  It uses this address as the "From" address that it uses when it performs its mass-mailing routine.  Numerous cases have been reported in which users of uninfected computers received complaints that they sent an infected message to someone else.  

For example, Linda Anderson is using a computer that is infected with W32.Klez.E@mm; Linda is not using an antivirus program or does not have current virus definitions.  When W32.Klez.gen@mm performs its emailing routine, it finds the email address of Harold Logan.  It inserts Harold's email address into the "From" portion of an infected message that it then sends to Janet Bishop.  Janet then contacts Harold and complains that he sent her an infected message, but when Harold scans his computer, Norton AntiVirus does not find anything - as would be expected - because his computer is not infected."

Pretty sneaky, huh?  Dangerous too!  The two best things you can do to prevent such an attack:

  1. Use a good anti-virus software program and keep the virus definitions up to date.
  2. Never open an attachment to an e-mail unless you are sure of its contents.

Thwarting Insect Invaders...
When cool night temperatures signal that it’s time to bring houseplants indoors a host of insects and their relatives may try to come indoors with them.  Once inside they can undergo a population explosion and spread from the plant they came in on to others in your home.  Other pests such as millipedes, centipedes, sowbugs and pillbugs, spiders, and earwigs may not harm plants or other materials, but their presence indoors makes them household nuisances.  

Repotting your plants in fresh soil will eliminate many of these invaders.  The others can be controlled mechanically - by broom and dustpan, vacuum cleaner, flyswatter or sole of shoe applied firmly to floor with the pest sandwiched between the flat surfaces.  The best approach is to inspect plant pots closely before bringing them inside.  Shake or tap pots vigorously to disturb beetles, millipedes, spiders and other creatures and encourage them to leave their hiding places.  If you find scale insects, mealybugs, aphids or other plant-destructive pests, use a hard stream of water or insecticidal soap to remove them.  Quarantine these plants from other uninfested indoor plants and observe them closely.  Treat any new outbreaks as they occur and discard any plants that are severely infested.

Source

Early Mulchers Beware...
Did you know that mulches applied too early can do more harm than good?   Think about it.  The primary function of mulch is to keep soil temperatures constant and prevent frost heaving, not to keep it warm.  It is best not to mulch until the soil temperature has reached about 35 degrees - hopefully at least a month from now!

 


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Press The Squash...
When you harvest your winter squash (Acorn or Butternut) check for maturity with your thumbnail.  When pressed with your nail the rind of a ripe squash will not be punctured.  To harvest the squash, cut the stem, don’t break it off.  The cut stems will dry and seal the squash so it will last for months in storage.  It is no exaggeration to say the squash you harvest in October and store in a dry place at around 50° to 55° F. can still be good to eat in April of next year.

Source

Tumbling Twigs...
Is your lawn getting covered with small branches?   Small branches accumulating on the ground and the presence of clean-cut twigs indicate the presence of beetle pests referred to as twig girdlers and twig pruners.  Both of these long-horned beetle species (Cerambycidae) attack numerous types of shade, nut and fruit trees.  Heavily damaged trees appear ragged and unattractive, and young trees can become deformed by repeated attacks.  The terms "girdler" and "pruner" refer to the damage done by the insects leading to breakage and falling of branch tips.  For both insects, the end result of their activities is the creation of dying branch tips suitable for overwintering of the larvae that have been placed there.

Help eliminate next year's pests by collecting and destroying infested twigs and branches you find on the ground between now and May. If practical, prune infested twigs still in the tree.

Source

 


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What's Hot On The Hotline...
Our mid-America location lies directly on some major flight paths for migratory birds.  This makes the fall a particularly productive time of the year for those who combine bird watching with their interest in gardening.  The two seem to go hand in hand in many ways.  Getting those birds to make a quick stop in your garden is discussed in this week's What's Hot on the Hotline...

Leveling The Lawn...
Uneven lawns can really wreak havoc when you're mowing.  These "pot holes" make level mowing nearly impossible and even walking through the yard less than ideal.  You can fix small low spots in the lawn by carefully removing the turf and filling in the low spot with good topsoil.  

Remove the turf by cutting 2 inches deep into the lawn with a flat-bladed spade, then angle the blade under the sod to cut it free, keeping at least 2 inches deep to get most of the roots.  If you do it really well you will remove a single piece of sod.  After filling the low spot, replace the sod, and keep it well watered until it is reestablished.

Finally...
"You ought to know that October is the first Spring month."

~ Karel Capek, Author, 1890-1938

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