| PLANT
Fall is a great time to plant new trees, shrubs, vines, bulbs,
perennials, grass seed and sod. Plants that are planted in the fall
enjoy cooler temperatures and ideal growing conditions that allow roots
ample time to grow into the surrounding soil.
Set out forget-me-nots, pansies, snapdragons, violas, sweet
William, pinks, and other hardy plants for flowering for winter and
early spring. Add a time-released fertilizer for better bloom.
Hardy annuals and biennials, such as larkspur, poppies,
forget-me-nots, sweet William, pansies, violas, pinks, snapdragons and
candytuft should be planted now. Get sweet peas into the ground.
Time to re-pot root bound houseplants to a larger pot. |
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You can continue to separate and transplant your perennials
throughout the fall and winter, as long as they remain dormant.
Prepare beds and individual holes for rose planting in January
and February. Use composted manure, pine bark, and similar materials
mixed with existing soil.
Dont forget those tulip and hyacinth bulbs you put in the
refrigerator last month. They can be planted after they have received 60
or more days of chilling.
Plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs in a pot filled with
horticultural sand or pebbles and store in a cool room (50-60°) until
shoots emerge, then move the pot into a bright, cool window. Bulbs
started by midmonth should bloom during the holidays.
Theres still time to plant ornamental cabbage and kale. When
planting, remove any yellowing lower leaves and plant so the bottom
leaves are flush with the ground.
Time to transplant peonies or divide them if you wish to multiply
your plants.
Prepare bed and plant or broadcast wildflower seeds. This can be
done in the spring as well, but you can get a head start now and focus
on other tasks come spring. |
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Plant strawberries and garlic.
Time to force amaryllis into flower.
Leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, cabbage and other
hardy vegetables such as beets can be put in coldframes or beneath a row
cover.
Divide and replant crowded dahlias after a freeze kills their top
growth. In colder areas lift and overwinter indoors in a cool
(35-50°F), dry place.
FERTILIZE
Fertilize cool season lawns with a quick release high nitrogen
fertilizer to promote root development and early spring green up. Test
soil for pH and apply limestone accordingly if needed. A soil test is
recommended every 2 or 3 years.
Feed annuals and perennials lightly with a liquid fertilizer,
such as 20-20-20, if a slow release fertilizer was not used last month
when planted or with earthworm castings, bone meal or blood meal.
Fertilize new and established beds of bulbs, corms, rhizomes and
tubers.
Holly plants with a heavy set of fruit often suffer a fertilizer
deficiency. An application of complete fertilizer late this month can be
helpful and provide a head start next spring.
Reduce the fertilization of indoor plants from late October to
mid-March. An exception would be plants in an atrium or a well-lighted
window.
Miniature roses growing indoors under artificial lights can be
fertilized with a liquid water-soluble fertilizer to encourage
flowering.
PRUNE
Dont get in a hurry to prune woody plants. Late December
through February is usually the best time to prune them. |
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Remove dead, diseased or damaged branches from trees and shrubs.
Begin major tree pruning. Remove dead limbs before leaves fall.
(Helps identify which limbs need to be removed.)
Use good pruning practices when selecting Christmas greenery from
landscape plants. Dont destroy the natural form and beauty of the
plant.
After chrysanthemums have stopped blooming, cut stems back close
to the ground and dispose of stems and all dropped and dried leaves and
branches.
Do not prune azaleas, rhododendrons and other spring-flowering
shrubs because they have already set their buds for next years
blooms.
Avoid pruning asters, ferns, salvias, mums, and other marginally
hardy plants to allow the crowns to help insulate them during the
winter.
Depending on your gardening style, leave or cut back perennial
stalks to 4 to 6 inches. |
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Roses need to be pruned thigh high by Thanksgiving when theyve
gone dormant. Plan to prune them knee high in February or so. Mulch well
with a thick layer of compost.
Cut the tops off your asparagus plants and add a winter dressing
of aged manure to the bed.
Remove yellow leaves and overgrown stems on houseplants. Trim off
the browned leaf tips with a sharp pair of scissors.
WATER
Irrigate all in-ground plants, if an early freeze is forecast.
Dry roots are more easily damaged by cold.
Protect your lawn from excessive winter damage by providing
irrigation during dry periods. |
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Check water needs of potted bulbs that will be forced and of
bulbs stored outdoors in cold frames or in the ground.
Water potted plants as needed, usually every few weeks. Be
careful not to over water houseplants, their growth rate also slows with
the shorter days.
Drain water from garden hoses and sprinklers, and hang them to
dry before putting them away for winter. Coil the hose and store
somewhere that does not receive direct sunlight. Store hoses where you
can quickly hook them up, water, then put away.
Now is a good time to replace any worn washers in hose-end
couplings and repair leaks with hose mending couplings. |
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Protect built-in sprinkler systems: drain the system, insulate
the valve mechanisms.
PEST/DISEASE CONTROL
Continue to watch for insect, slug and snail, or disease damage
throughout the garden, and take the necessary steps to control the
problem.
As soon as the leaves fall from fruit trees, shade or flowering
trees and other deciduous plants, they can be sprayed for the first time
with a dormant spray. Make sure the temperature is above freezing at the
time of application. This spraying helps control over-wintering insects
and diseases. Apply according to label instructions.
Rip out zucchini vines, withered bean plants and tattered
cornstalks. Shred the debris and mix in the compost pile along with
manures and grass clippings. Keeping the garden clean and weed free will
destroy winter hiding places for slugs, snails and other pests.
This month, rake up leaves from around fruit trees to help
control insect populations and remove disease-causing organisms that
overwinter on leaf debris. You will help reduce rodent populations by
removing all fruit remaining on the tree or on the ground. Applying
mulch near fruit trees is not recommended as it increases the likelihood
of rodent damage during winter.
Clean up the rose bed to help reduce disease next season.
Clean up and remove old, dried iris leaves, steams and other
debris to help eliminate overwintering eggs or iris borers.
Treat perennial weeds such as wild garlic and mock strawberry
this month. Apply a broadleaf herbicide when the temperature is above
50°.
Give all overwintering plants a good check over for pests and
diseases before bringing them indoors. Watch for spider mites,
whiteflies, scale and aphids. Spray as needed with an insecticidal soap.
Remove and destroy bagworms and tent caterpillars.
If cabbage leaves look lacy, use Bacillus thuringiensis
(Bt), Dipel, Thuricide.
Hand pull any young winter weeds or cover with a shallow layer of
compost.
ODD JOBS
Update your gardening journal and make plans for improvements
next year. |
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Encourage African violets to bloom by giving them plenty of
light.
Tender summer bulbs that could be killed by winter freezes should
be lifted, dried and stored in a cool, dark area after first frost.
Harvest sweet potatoes, gourds, pumpkins and winter squash before
frost.
Harvest broccoli, cauliflower and Brussel sprouts while the heads
are still compact.
Harvest mature, green tomatoes before frost when daytime
temperatures are consistently below 65OF and ripen indoors in the dark.
Store at 55-700 F; the warmer the temperatures, the faster they ripen.
Continue to harvest herbs until frost. |
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Move containers holding live plants to a protected spot. Protect
roots by covering the soil with straw or leaves.
In water gardens, remove tender plants, above-ground water
containers or plants from shallow ponds to overwinter indoors. Also
remove any floating plants you do not wish to keep to prevent them from
rotting and fouling the water.
Remove frost-killed annuals.
Add organic matter then till annual flower beds to improve soil.
Cover with a mulch to avoid compaction from winter rains.
Continue mowing lawn as needed. Overseeded ryegrass lawns should
be mowed between 1 and 2-1/2 inches high.
Make sure that the canes of your climbing roses and other vining
plants are securely fastened to their supports. Winter winds can whip
and severely damage unprotected plants. Dont tie them so tightly that
the string or twist-tie cuts into the stem. Use a length of an old nylon
stocking because it will stretch as the plant grows, rather than cutting
into the stem, as string will do.
Be sure that your tender plants are protected from frost.
Mulching with bark, sawdust or straw will help create a blanket of
protection over the root system. Should the weather get suddenly cold,
place burlap, cloth or dark plastic over your tender plants to give them
some added protection from the cold. Be sure to remove this covering
when the weather has stabilized. |
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Keep leaves raked from the lawn. They should be composted.
Alternatively, you can just mow over them, turning them to a mulch which
adds important nutrients back to the lawn.
Winter heating dries the air out in your home considerably. Help
your house plants survive by misting them or placing the pots on a
pebble filled tray of water to ensure adequate humidity and moisture.
Use small stakes or markers where youve planted bulbs or
late-starting spring plants in the perennial garden to avoid disturbing
them when you begin spring soil preparation.
When you have finished your last mowing of the year, make sure
that your mower is properly stored. Run it until it is out of fuel....
old gas can turn to varnish and severely damage the engine. |
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Clean, oil, repair or replace sprayers and other equipment.
Replace worn spark plugs.
Sharpen, clean and oil your metal garden tools for winter
storage. Place some sand and some oil in a large bucket, then slide your
garden tools in and out of the sand. This will do an excellent job of
cleaning them, as well as applying a light coat of oil to prevent
rusting.
Coat wooden tool handles with boiled linseed oil to help prevent
drying and cracking leading to splinters. Soak a rag in boiled linseed
oil and slowly rub the handle, allowing the wood to absorb the oil. Let
sit and repeat procedure several times. Linseed oil damp or soaked rags
or paper stored in dry containers or in piles can be spontaneously
combustible and create a serious fire hazard. Linseed soaked rags and
paper should be soaked in water, machine washed with detergent or
individually set out flat to dry hard before disposal.
Birdbaths, fountains and pots made of concrete or terracotta are
susceptible to damage from freezing weather. Remove soil and scrub out
pots, then store in a dry shed or a garage.
Take advantage of good weather to prepare garden beds for spring
planting. Add compost and dig it in. In the spring, youll have nice
friable soil that will need very little to produce healthy plants with
plenty of fruit.
Start collecting leaves for the compost pile. Be sure to have
extra soil available so that each 6 inch layer of leaves may be covered
with several inches of soil. Always wet the layer of leaves thoroughly
before adding the soil. Add about a cup full of a complete lawn or
garden fertilizer to each layer of leaves to provide the necessary
nitrogen for decomposition. Turn often to keep it cooking.
If youve purchased gourds this year as decorations, plan to
grow them yourself next year. They make great garden projects for kids.
Be sure not to store apples or pears with vegetables. The fruits
give off ethylene gas which speeds up the breakdown of vegetables and
will cause them to develop off flavors.
Removing stakes, string, and plastic as well as fibrous vines and
stems and rotting vegetables.
Ornamental grasses provide wonderful interest at this time of
year.
Sow a cover crop.
A light mulch of shredded leaves or straw on carrots, turnips and
other root vegetables will help protect against freezing. Straw is the
best mulch to use because it is hollow and that provides good
insulation. If you use leaves, make sure they are finely chopped to
prevent them from matting down.
Keep Christmas cactus in a sunny spot where night temperatures
can be kept below 65° F. Buds will drop if you allow night temperatures
to go above 70° F. or if you allow the plant to become excessively dry.
They should also be kept in total darkness from 5:00 pm until 8:00 am
for about 30 days in October to initiate flower buds.
If you have saved seeds of your favorite plants, allow them to
become air dry, then place them in an airtight container and store in
the refrigerator or freezer. Be sure to label each packet carefully.
Remember, seed from hybrid plants will seldom resemble the parent plant.
Fall is an excellent time to dethatch, reseed and patch the lawn.
Wrap trunks of young trees to prevent winter sun scald injury. |
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If you saved your amaryllis bulb from last year now is the time
to bring it in, repot it, water it well and place in a bright room. You
should have wonderful blooms by Christmas.
Hanging baskets should be emptied and washed thoroughly with soap
and mild bleach solution before being put away for the winter.
Thoroughly clean the greenhouse, inside and out. Dont worry
about sterilising all the surfaces - a good wash and scrub with a stiff
brush will suffice. If you have a powerwasher the job will be very easy,
but remember to do this on a sunny day and remove plants before you
start, to ensure they are not damaged by the spray.
Feed the birds and other small creatures which may not be able to
find food. For only a few dollars you can feed an enormous number of
birds. You dont have to be a bird watcher to enjoy the feeling that
you get when youve helped out one of Gods creatures. |
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