~ September 22, 2010 ~

Still Too Hot...
Well fall has arrived and I am hoping that cooler temperatures set in and stay around awhile. I can't believe I'm saying that. Those of you who have been reading the Savvygardener newsletter know that I hate winter. So why you ask would I be wishing for cooler temperatures? Because it has been too dang hot! I mean seriously - 90 degrees in September with humidity at 87%. I guess if I have to put on a jacket that is a sacrifice I am willing to make. All I know is that I would like for it to cool down. Don't confuse cooler temperatures with cold temperatures because I am not wishing for winter. Just some fall-like temperatures in the high 60's, low 70's? You know... jeans and sweatshirt weather. Weather that allows us all to work outside comfortably. I spent all day Tuesday outside and I can tell you that it was hot! It was not very enjoyable but there are things that need done. Between the rain and heat it has been tough to spend any lengthy amount of time outside. Boy, do I sound old and cantankerous.

Moisture Minders...
One problem with fall is that it makes us forgetful. Even Savvygardeners sometimes cut back on watering too much this time of year. Your perennials, trees, shrubs, and lawn need that moisture - not like they did in mid-summer but about an inch a week or so. Watering now and through November helps ensure your plants have a healthy root structure going into our often harsh winters.

Plants That Came In From The Cold...
Once chilly overnight temperatures become the norm you will need to bring your winter houseplants back inside. When you do, make sure to check them for pests. Simply rinsing the plants' leaves, and soaking the pots in water for 15 to 20 minutes will drown most soil-dwelling pests. Also, clean the windows where plants will be placed. It can dramatically increase available sunlight and make for a much healthier plant!

Tidy Up Around Fruit Trees...
No one likes worms and other pests in their fruit trees. A simple clean up now can dramatically reduce the number of pests that return next year. Just pick up and destroy any fallen fruit, branches, and leaves. Worms and other pests feed on this fruit and debris, overwinter in the soil, and emerge in the spring to lay eggs and start the cycle all over again.

Garlic Lovers Get Ready!
Garlic needs to be in the ground at least one month before the soil freezes so now through mid-October is the ideal time for planting. Start by planting the small cloves that are divisions of the large bulb. The larger the clove, the larger the size of the mature bulb at harvest. Do not divide the bulb until immediately before planting. Although some people have had good luck planting the garlic from the grocery store, seedstock from a nursery or via mail-order is recommended.

Garlic needs a full-sun site with loose soil rich in organic matter. Adding compost to the bed is usually a good idea. Plant the cloves (with their pointy sides up) three to five inches apart at a depth of two to three inches. Add a light layer of mulch. Allow 18 to 30 inches between rows or plant five inches apart in all directions if you're using raised beds. Next spring the garlic will push through the soil and mulch. We'll wait until then to complete the directions through harvest.

Chilly Change In The Air...
This time of year it's not unusual for overnight temperatures to dip into the 40's. Brrr! There's no frost on the horizon yet but keep in mind that our first frost is due in mid-October. Remember that Mother Nature has her own agenda and doesn't have much time for statistics and averages. Surprise early frosts can be a problem if you're not prepared.

For those of you new to Savvygardener.com we hope you will enjoy our timely frost alerts. We send these e-mail and Twitter alerts to all subscribers when we believe an untimely frost is likely. Hopefully we are still several weeks from our first frosty scare. Cross your fingers!

The Gardener's Workout...
Have you ever noticed how fit Savvygardeners look? It's because gardening is such great exercise! Need proof? Well, Dr. Mark Kantor at the University of Maryland College of Agriculture & Natural Resources has published an article that defines the amount of calories burned doing various activities. It turns out that gardening (see below) can really burn the calories.

Calories burned during each 10 minutes  of various gardening activities
	Body Weight
Activity	125 Pounds	175 Pounds	250 Pounds
Light gardening	30	42	59
Weeding garden	49	68	98
Mowing grass (power)	34	47	67
Mowing grass (manual)	38	52	74

Source

Oh Say Can You Seed?
It's not too late to overseed your lawn - but it's getting close. You should be able to successfully overseed for the next week to 10 days. After that your success will depend on how quickly winter arrives. Two quick tips to increase your success:

1. Keep your new turf well watered through the rest of fall.
2. Read our very popular article, Overseeding A Lawn.

The great thing about seeding and overseeding is the low cost and high return. Relatively speaking, grass seed is cheap. If your seeding is successful you wind up with a priceless lawn next spring. If it's not 100% successful you haven't lost much.

Finally...
"Fall is not the end of the gardening year, it is the start of next year's growing season. The mulch you lay down will protect your perennial plants during the winter and feed the soil as it decays, while the cleaned-up flower bed will give you a huge start on either planting seeds or setting out small plants."

~ Thalassa Cruso