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November 6, 2002

Out With The Old...
I was out in the garden this past weekend for a short time.  It wasn't raining at the time but boy was it chilly.  Kevin and I managed to rid the garden of some of its ugliness.  There is something about dead impatiens that are not too attractive - kind of like 3AM at the all night salad bar.  Out with the ugly frostbitten annuals and time for planning and planting for Spring (only about 150 days away).  I still have not had a chance to plant any bulbs but there's still plenty of time.  I am really counting on this weekend to be nice and free of any precipitation so that I can get the job done.

Anyone else notice the leaves this year?  The maples are about as pretty as I can remember - rich reds, bright yellows, deep oranges.  Lovely!  But what about the rest of the trees?  In Westwood the oaks, elms, magnolias, and just about everything else are either still green or only just starting to turn.  Hopefully when they catch up to the maples they will be just as nice.

Please don't pray for rain.  We've had plenty for a while.

~ Shelly  

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.

Seed Saving Savvy...
After you have collected seeds from your favorite flowers and vegetables be careful how you store them.  The two words that best sum up the right conditions are "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

Help For The Not So Hardy...
Now that we've got that wicked first frost behind us it's time to do something with those non-hardy bulbs we planted last spring.  Here's what to do:

  • Dahlias
    Cut
    the tops of dahlia plants back to about 3 inches above the soil.  Then dig the roots out of the ground, being careful not to break the neck.  Place the root clumps upside down and allow them to dry for several hours before storing.
  • Gladiolus
    Cut gladiolus tops back close to the base, leaving no more than an inch or so of the stem.  Remove the excess soil from the corms.  Spread the corms out in a well-ventilated place, such as a garage, for about three weeks.  Once dried thoroughly, remove the old corms, stems and husks and discard them.  The healthy new corms are then ready for storing.
  • Canna
    Cut back canna stems to about 6 inches.  Dig the rhizomes out of the ground and dry for a few hours in the sun.  Then bring them in for storage.
  • Tuberous begonias
    Dig tuberous begonias, tops and all, after frost blackens the tops.  Put them in a frost-free place for a week or 2 for drying.  Once dry, cut the tops back to about 3 inches from the tuber.  Let tubers dry for about 2 more weeks.  Then break off the stem stubs and shake the excess soil from the tubers.

Dahlias, cannas, and begonias can be stored surrounded by vermiculite or peat moss in a shallow box.  Gladioli should be stored in a paper bag.

Source

 


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Look Who's Sleeping In The Garden Bed...
Many disease-causing viruses overwinter in the roots of perennial weeds.  Tomato mosaic virus overwinters in the roots of ground cherry, horsenettle, jimson weed, nightshade, and bittersweet; cucumber mosaic virus lives in the roots of milkweed, catnip, and pokeweed; bean mosaic overwinters in white sweet clover roots; and many cabbage diseases spread from wild members of the cole family.  A good fall cleanup is essential.  Don't wait!

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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.

 


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What's Hot On The Hotline / Winter Wisdom...
With this week’s article, “What’s Hot on the Hotline?” begins its annual metamorphosis to reemerge as “Winter Wisdom for Gardeners”.  This coincides with the closing of the EMG Hotline on October 31.  It will reopen again March 1, 2003 reinvigorated and ready to go!

Late fall/early winter gardening tips kick off 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 Thanksgiving is a good target fertilzing date but because it's so late this year we'll shoot for any time in the first few weeks of November.  Use a soluble Nitrogen source such as urea, ammonium nitrate, or ammonium sulfate and apply 1 to 1½ lbs. N/1000 sq. ft. 

Finally...
"In the evenings I scrape my fingernails clean, hunt through old catalogues for new seed, oil workboots and shears.  This garden is no metaphor - more a task that swallows you into itself, earth using, as always, everything it can."

~ Jan Hirshfield, November, Remembering Voltaire

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