Falling For
This Weather...
I am having a tough time sitting here at my desk typing this
editorial. I have enthusiastically opened the doors and windows
to allow the breeze to work its way through the house. The fresh
air has my mind drifting. What a day! It is hard to believe that
it is November 2nd and it is almost 70°
and tomorrow is suppose to be even warmer. It just goes to show
you that you can't always count on the calendar to determine what
the weather is going to be.
The leaves
are falling in Westwood faster than anyone can
rake them up. Yes, not only do we have to contemplate when
to put the garden to bed but we also have to deal with the
leaves. The leaves will continue to fall throughout the month of
November and sometimes even into December. The good news is that
the city of Westwood owns a giant leaf vacuum which makes its
rounds throughout the neighborhood picking up leaves you have
placed on the curb. The upside to that perk, less raking and
bagging. How great is that?
~
Shelly
Late Season Seeding...
Last week we talked about the fact that it's too late to put
down grass seed. If you didn't get seed down but need new grass
you currently have two options:
-
Dormant seeding
can be successful in areas not susceptible to erosion. Anytime
after Thanksgiving and through March you can lay grass seed
with the expectation that it will germinate and grow when
spring arrives. Wintertime precipitation coupled with the
soil's freeze/thaw cycles will aid in proper setting of seeds.
-
Sod can be used successfully during
almost any time of the year that the ground isn't frozen. The
trick is getting it established. The secret is water.
-
Keep it soaked the first week. It should
be so wet that you cannot walk on it.
-
Keep it wet the
second week. It should be very squishy under foot.
-
Keep it moist the
third week. Water lightly every day.
-
Make sure it gets
about an inch of water per week thereafter until it's
established.
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 (preferably twice as wide as the
tree's root ball) 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.
Time For Trees...
And speaking of trees.. now is a great
time to plant one (or more). While the visible part of the tree
will be dormant, the roots will remain active and growing through
the winter. This assures that the tree will be well established
and ready for spring and summer next year. Need help?
Just read our newest feature article,
Planting Trees...
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
Long Live Geraniums...
If you want to keep your garden geraniums
over the winter you would do well to treat them as houseplants.
Before they get damaged by frost cut them back to about half
their original size. Using only the healthy, insect-free plants
individually pot them up using dry potting soil. Water them
thoroughly and as needed to keep them somewhat moist (not wet)
through winter. Pinch back the tips of shoots once or twice to
promote branching and prevent weak growth.
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... "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 |