~ September 10, 2008 ~

Perfect? Well, It's Close...
Could it possibly be that Mother Nature has surprised us with an early fall? It sure feels that way. I was a little frightened by the low temperature of 46° yesterday morning. Brrr... I know that 46° is not that cold but I guess it depends on who you talk to. I am a fair weather gal. I prefer the temperatures to be in the mid 65's to low 70's this time of year. I know what you're thinking... Well sure who doesn't? I was ready for jeans and sweatshirts, not winter coats.

Mulch Ado About Trees...
Fall is a great time to plant a tree. Keeping it alive is an all-season affair. Mulching is so important for new trees but it's not as simple as dumping a bag of wood chips at the base of a tree. Here are some tips to help you avoid the most common mistakes:

• Don't pile mulch around the trunk.  This keeps the trunk wet, which can allow diseases and insects to invade.  Keep the mulch at least 6 inches from the trunk.
• Don't put on too little or too much.  A 1-inch-deep layer doesn't do the job.  A settled depth of 3 to 5 inches gives you the full benefits of mulch, including good weed control.  Mulch depths of a foot or two are excessive and may smother roots.
• Don't apply sour-smelling mulch.  If it smells like a litter box it's probably been stored on a waterlogged site.  The ammonia that builds in this situation can harm your tree.  Sour mulch is a rare occurrence, but your nose will give you a clear warning of it.
• Don't use freshly chipped chips.  While the chance of disease transmission is small it's easy to go zero-risk by aging chips for six weeks or more before using them around your trees.

Continue Mosquito Control...
In case you haven't noticed, mosquitoes continue to be present in large numbers and will continue to pose a threat right up until our first hard frost. Limiting their breeding area is one of the most effective ways to keep their numbers in check. Mosquitoes can breed in very small amounts of standing water, sometimes even in water collected on a plastic bag or under a small saucer under a plant. Change water in birdbaths and pets water dishes regularly - at least twice a week.

Counting On Crickets...
The temperatures are dropping but how much? I guess you could be a traditionalist and look at a thermometer. Or you could show your savvy by listening to the crickets. Seriously. Count the number of chirps a common cricket makes during a 15-second period. Add 40 to the number of chirps. The total will be pretty close to the actual temperature in Fahrenheit.

Planting Perennials Properly...
Fall is here and that means we're planting perennials at our house. By planting perennials now Savvygardeners will benefit from the plant establishing a strong root structure during the autumn months. This in turn leads to a bigger, healthier plant next spring.

Perennials are generally sold in pots or bare-root. Here are the steps to follow when planting a bare root perennial:

1. Remove the plant from its package, and carefully remove all loose packing material (peat moss and sawdust are commonly used).
2. Soak the roots in a bucket of water for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Examine the root system, and trim away any rotted, moldy, broken or elongated roots with a sharp knife or your pruning shears.
4. Dig a hole deep and wide enough to allow the roots to fan out from the crown at about 45° angle. It sometimes helps to make a cone-shaped mound of soil in the bottom of the hole and spread the roots around it. Remember, the crown of most perennials should be roughly level with the surrounding ground.
5. Cover the roots with soil and press down firmly. Make sure all the roots - especially those under the crown are in contact with soil.
6. Water the plant well and add a layer of mulch.

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Apple Storage...
Last week we told readers when to pick apples. This week we'll share with you how long you can store them.  Not surprisingly some cultivars can be stored longer than others. Some can be stored for as long as eight months and still be tasty and crispy.  The approximate length of time of those that keep well under refrigerated conditions follows:

For best results:

• Store only the best quality
• Pick as they are first maturing
• Avoid skin breaks, disease or insect damage, and bruises on individual fruit.
• Store in a plastic bag to help retain moisture in the apples. The bag should have a few small holes for air exchange. The bags of apples may be stored in boxes to prevent bruising if they must be stacked or moved from time to time.
• Refrigerate at about 35º F.
• Sort about every 30 to 40 days to remove fruit that may be beginning to rot.

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Hummingbird Attractors...
We saw our hummingbird friends again this year but next year we'd like to see even more! If you're looking for plants that are likely to attract hummingbirds consider planting these this fall:

A Dandy Time to Stop Dandelions...
So, all summer long you've been battling a few (or a few dozen) dandelions for control of your lawn. Well, they say the best way to control dandelions and other broad-leaf weeds is by maintaining a lush, healthy turf. But you've still got to knock out those pesky weeds that just won't go away and fall is a great time to do it. Options are many but generally the most effective controls result with a liquid broadleaf weed herbicide sprayed under these conditions:

• The weeds are actively growing.
• Soil moisture is plentiful (never in drought).
• Air temperatures are between 60°and 75°F (never above 80°).
• Wind speeds are below 5 mph.
• The lawn will not receive moisture through rain or irrigation for at least 24 hours.
• The lawn will not be mowed for several days before or after the application.
• The person doing the applying reads and follows herbicide label instructions carefully.

Finally...
"Why are wildflowers so important to those of us who care at all for flowers? For me, anyway, it is because they come like gifts from God (or Nature), and to encounter them in their natural habitat is an extraordinary aesthetic pleasure."

~ Katherine S. White