My Garden Online Blog

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.