My Garden Online Blog

The trees are pretty bare this time of year so this owl wasn’t too difficult to see from a distance.  I got within 50 feet before snapping this photo.

What is the timeline for good lawn care in the fall?

September – seed in the early part of the month.  Core-aeration is recommended (when lawn isn’t wet).  Apply a 3-1-2 lawn fertilizer

October – fertilize if not done in September.  Mow at least 2 1/2 to 3 inches

November – Final application of a slow release fertilizer high in Nitrogen.  This will help keep lawns greener

Every fall, nursery shops are filled with fall planted bulbs such as tulips and daffodils but the term bulb applies to any plant with a swollen storage system.  4 types of bulbs – “true” bulbs such as Tulips; Corms such as Gladiolas; Tubers such as Dahlias and Rhizomes such as Canna. Here are a couple of general recommendations for bulbs:

• Spring-blooming bulbs shouldn’t be fertilized after they start flowering but summer and fall ones can be
• Watering should be with a soaker hose when possible so the water reaches the roots – not the bulb
• Make sure you plant bulbs with perennials/annuals that have same water requirements.
• Storing bulbs?  Make sure they are dry before storage; provide good air circulation and keep the temp between 35 – 65F depending on bulb type.  Use peat moss, sand and perlite or vermiculite for storage but don’t pile the bulbs too deep.

The owners of this property have a lovely garden; festive holiday scenes and the locals flock to see it…

What is 940# and orange all over?  This spectacular specimen was on display at the Fruit and Vegetable garden at the CBG.

Never heard of it before yesterday but walking with my class thru the garden, we were shown the incredible damage a deer can do to a young tree.  Young trees with higher branches are targeted because the antlers don’t get hung up.  Use plastic netting as shown and hopefully your tree will make it through the winter.

Here’s some tips for dividing perennials

• Divide fall blooming plants in the Spring; spring blooming in the fall
• Don’t divide on hot sunny days
• Pull the whole plant from the ground then divide it.  That will help continue it’s growth habit
• Fall: make sure there is 4-6 weeks before frost when dividing so the plants can become established
• Spring: divide as soon as growing tips have emerged

What are the advantages of incorporating wildflowers into your garden?  According to the NPIN website ( http://www.wildflower.org/plants/ ), they conserve water, save money on fertilizer and provide a home for birds and butterflies.  The goldenrod and endangered False Foxglove were found at the Chiwaukee Prairie.  Unfortunately, my photography skills are not great so the False-Foxglove (A. skinneriana) isn’t the best picture.

Walking through the Chicago Botanic Garden on a beautiful sunny fall day is a treat.  I’d like to share a couple of photos…

This fall is filled with fun activities for everyone.  September 10-12 is the Annual Roadside Flower sale and October 1-3 is the Fall Bulb Festival.  These events draw great crowds and terrific plant selections so come early!  For more information, visit the http://chicagobotanic.org/ website.

Looking for plant combinations for your planters – the garden is a great place to start.  Check out the photo I posted to the “garden inspirations” tab  – fantastic!