|
Pruning
Get
your pruning done before the beginning of fall so that new growth
has time to harden off before the first frost. If it's not done
by September 21st, hold off until the first of December or later.
Fall Color
It's time
to plant Mums, Pansies and Snapdragons for fall and winter color.
Other Planting
Fall
is the best time to plant shrubs and trees and is also a great time
to divide perennials. To do this, root prune just outside the dripline
using a sharp, clean shovel. It's all right to sever the roots,
as plants produce two roots for every one cut. Wait a month to transplant,
and be sure to mulch and maintain good soil moisture.
Lawns
Spread
0-0-20 fertilizer on Centipede lawns at a rate of 5 pounds per 1000
square feet. This, along with proper watering (see Irrigation, below)
will help protect it from winter kill.
Irrigation
Even
though your lawn will be going dormant soon and some plants will
lose their leaves, they all still need water through the winter.
If there's no rain, run your irrigation system twice a week until
the first of December, and after that once a week in periods of
no rain.
If plants and
sod dry out and temperatures get down into the 20s at night, they
could suffer considerable damage. One of the biggest problems with
Centipede sod is winter kill (see Lawns, above) so don't let
your sod suffer this fate.
On the other
hand, overwatering can be a problem. To prevent this, consider installing
a rain sensor on your irrigation system. Sensors can cost as little
as $75 and can save water, and therefore money. Call us for a free
estimate for this and any other services mentioned.
Vegetables!
There's
still time to plant your fall vegetable garden with lettuce,
spinach, broccoli and collards. And remember this fun fact about
growing your own food: A $70 investment in vegetable gardening averages
a $600 return. Further,
 You know where
your produce comes from and what is on it.
You know how
fresh it is.
It's easier to walk out to your backyard and pick lettuce
than to drive to the store.
You'll feel good about yourself when you harvest.
Vegetable gardening is something the whole family can enjoy together.
Kids love picking things.
And again, with the composting...
Keep on composting to utilize
kitchen scraps and produce the best fertilizer possible for your garden the
next season. You can add it as mulch around plants or work it into any bed as you prepare it, and
worms, those excellent composters, love it. For good instructions
on starting and maintaining a compost operation, look here.
|
