Knock-Out
Weather...
Talk about being confused... I have
Double Knock-Out roses in bloom and it
is almost mid-November. 80°
one day, 60° the next and 70's
going into the weekend. I don't know about you but I am having a
tough time riding this extreme weather rollercoaster. I can't
even imagine what it must be like for the
plants. Think about it. Most plants this time of the year
have already started their hibernation process. Sleeping,
regenerating, and getting ready for their big spring hurrah. It
goes from cold to warm to hot in just a matter of days. It is a
bit hard to figure out. I think I'll wait to put the garden to
bed once the ground has frozen (which at this rate may be late
December).
So is
anyone else being bothered by those pesky straw mites? Yikes!
They are everywhere. A word of advice - try to stay out of the
leaves. That seems to be their home and
playing, raking or just walking in them seems to get them all
stirred up. I think a good hard freeze would help but I am not
sure when that is going to happen. 34°
is cold but it really does not count as a hard freeze. We need
something good and cold, say like 25°,
now that would do the job.
Among
this week's
photos is one picture of my
mom and dad's mums. They are spectacular. My mom called me the
other day and couldn't say enough about them and she was right.
Isn't it fun to share the results of
your hard labor with everyone around you?
~
Shelly
Warm Weather
Warning...
Each fall, plants go through a process of cold
hardening whereby they become acclimated to lower temperatures.
This acclimation is in response to cooler temperatures and to
days becoming shorter during the autumn months. Ideally
temperatures drop gradually, plants become progressively more
acclimated to cold and survive much lower temperatures than one
that has not had the opportunity to become used to the cold
weather. Recent mild temperatures have prevented plants from
hardening as much as they normally would. If temperatures
suddenly drop we may see damage to these plants.
Unfortunately there is not a lot that can be
done to protect trees and most shrubs (other than making sure the
soil under them is moist) but we may be able to help herbaceous
perennials. Herbaceous perennials not only include our perennial
flowering plants that die to the ground each year but also other
plants such as strawberries. As long as the weather remains mild
or temperatures drop gradually, keep the plants uncovered to
allow them to acclimate. However, if there is a sharp drop in
temperature (to mid-teens or lower), throw mulch or some other
covering over them to help moderate temperatures. Uncover again
as temperatures rise to allow the plants to continue the
acclimation process. Some tender herbaceous perennials (such as
strawberries) need a permanent mulch through the winter months to
help protect them from desiccation and heaving caused by freezing
and thawing of the soil. This is best done when temperatures have
been cold enough to leave some frost in the ground.
Source
Help For
The Not So Hardy...
Our first
frost is behind us and our first hard freeze is not far away.
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.
Slug Solution...
If slugs were a problem this year, clean up vegetable gardens
and perennial borders very thoroughly. Dry autumn weather sends
these mollusks 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
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.
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.
Finally... "Learn to look at
every difficult situation as a present; the gift within is the
possibilities it holds. To open the gift you must find the
'possibility'." ~
Catherine Pulsifer, Author |