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November 13, 2002

Awesome Autumn...
I have to say that Mother Nature came through for us this past weekend.  Kevin and I planted close to 600 bulbs as well as three new shrubs.  Our timing could not have been better considering that after planting on Saturday we received a nice slow rain early Sunday.  Now that is the way it is suppose to work.  Plant something, then stand back and let Mother Nature do her job.  I wish it was always that easy!

Wasn't Saturday the perfect fall day?  Kevin and I spent most of it out in the garden knowing that our days are numbered.  It sure was fun playing in the leaves with the kids and getting our hands nice and dirty in the soil.  Those are the types of memories that help sustain me during winter.  I tend to go through a period of huge adjustment between autumn and winter.  There is something about the whole time change and the darkness closing in on us so early.  It makes me a bit gritchy (use your imagination to guess the meaning of that word)!  Can't stand the thought of winter arriving and being trapped by colder temperatures!  Ugh!  I am crossing my fingers for a mild winter.

Join Kevin and I in attending Steve Hess's annual Holiday Gift Open House at the Hess's November 20-24th.  Steve and fellow artists turn the Hess household into a one-stop Christmas shop.  Everything you can imagine from garden stones, stained glass, jewelry and lots of other great items for the home and garden.  An event you won't want to miss!  Bring that Christmas list and get a jump on holiday shopping!  Hope to see you there!

~ Shelly  

Moving Mums...
Once again this fall I've bought a lot of potted mums.  There's no better way to get that late fall color in the garden!   Many gardeners (myself included) choose to transplant their potted mums into the garden.  Well, now is the time to do it.  For best results follow these important tips:

  • Transplant mums into well-drained soil.  Winter injury is most common when mums are planted in poorly-drained soils. 
  • Before planting, make sure there is an adequate amount of organic matter incorporated into the area.  Potted mums are often grown in a mix that is very high in organic matter. If these are planted in very heavy clay soil without first amending it, the difference between the two soil situations often prevents good root establishment and increases the chance of winter kill.  
  • After leaves have turned brown, cut back the tops and apply six inches of loose mulch.  The purpose of this mulch is to provide wind protection and keep the soil shaded and frozen so that frost heaving is minimized.  Protective mulch may be removed or pulled away from the crown by early to mid-April after danger of severe cold is past.  

Source

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!

African Violets, American Favorites...
Among houseplants African violets are a favorite of many gardeners.  If you want to grow some this winter remember these tips:

  • They do best when planted in rather small pots.  A good general rule is to use a pot one-third the diameter of the plant.  
  • To humidify African violets, surround the pot with moist peat contained in a second pot.  
  • When buying new plants, avoid those with any signs of yellowing leaves. 
  • African violets require a day temperature of 70ºF and a night temperature of 65ºF. They may die if the air temperature dips below 55ºF. 
  • African violets do well under fluorescent lights 12 to 14 hours a day; lights should be 8 to 12 inches from the plant.

 

Don't Miss The Hess's Open House!

Exceptional Handmade Garden Gifts
for the Ones You Love!

Garden Stones, Bird Baths, Planters,
Wood Carving, and Much More!

All Handcrafted by 18 Area Artists

Click Here For Details!
 

 

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!

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.

 


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Winter Wisdom...
There are still many productive days left for gardeners before the onset of winter.  Cleaning, mulching and pruning are but a few of the chores we can (and should) be tackling right now.  Get the details 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...
"For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together.  For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad."

~ Edwin Way Teale, American Naturalist

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