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November 10, 2004

Practically Perfect...
Today was a perfect day for planting bulbs. Although I didn't get all of them planted I sure made a big dent. I planted close to 200 and still have another 200 to 300 to go. Hopefully this cold snap we are supposed to receive will be temporary. If the low temperatures stay in the 20's for long periods of time the ground will surely freeze keeping me from planting the rest of those bulbs. At this point I will have to hope for the best. It is November after all.

Thanks to the subscribers who sent positive words about winter. Interestingly enough there were at least two who wrote about having lived in Florida and how it is actually quite nice to have some time off from the garden. They talked about how it became such a challenge to keep plants looking great year round. They also suggested that perhaps to break up the monotony of winter here, we should take a trip to some tropical location. Now that's a great idea. I will have to bring that up at the next employee meeting.

Prepare for some very cold temperatures Friday morning. It looks like the lows might drop into the high 20's. Brr... If there are plants you are still wanting to hang on to make sure they are covered appropriately. Stay warm!

~ Shelly  

Help For The Not So Hardy...
Our first frost is behind us and our first hard freeze is due this week.  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.

Keep Your Cutters Clean...
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.

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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Slug Solution...
If slugs were a problem this year, clean up vegetable gardens and perennial borders very thoroughly. Dry autumn weather sends these molluscs searching for damp hiding places. If you deprive them of moist areas that they can use to stay alive, you can significantly decrease the potential for damage next year.

Source

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
 

Winter Rose Protection...
Get your roses ready for winter by cutting them back to about 36 inches.  Mound mulching material (compost, straw, leaves, etc...) at least 12 inches deep around the remaining stems to provide protection from freezing and soil heaving. Next spring you'll cut back any of the wood that didn't survive the winter and your roses will be ready for another great growing season. 

Grass Is Greener...
Just because we are getting a hard freeze this week doesn't mean you should put away those garden hoses!  If you want a green, healthy lawn watering is a year-round exercise.  Droughts can occur in winter and if we go three or more weeks without any precipitation it's time to water the lawn.  Two things to keep in mind:

  • Drain any water from hoses if you plan to keep them outside. 
  • Make sure temperatures are above freezing if you decide to water.

Finally...
"Man was not made to rust out in idleness. A degree of exercise is as necessary for the preservation of health, both of body and mind, as his daily food. And what exercise is more fitting, or more appropriate of one who is in the decline of life, than that of superintending a well-ordered garden? What more enlivens the sinking mind? What is more conducive to a long life?"

~ Joseph Breck

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