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Whether you are hoping for a big harvest, a beautiful landscape, or a little stress relief, knowing the when and how of gardening will help you be a success. Use these timely garden tips to eliminate some of the guesswork. For more gardening tips, check out Melinda's gardening books.
Now is the time to correct compacted soils and thatch problems. Both problems interfere with root growth and result in thin lawns. Remove the thatch layer if it is greater than ½ inch thick. Core aerate compacted soil to improve drainage. Consider hiring a professional for large jobs. They have the equipment, training and staff to get the job done efficiently. Growing GreenTake time to evaluate the summer season. Look for ways to improve the beauty and decrease water and pesticide use. It may mean moving plants to a location that better matches their needs, thinning plants to increase air circulation and decrease disease, or mulching the garden to conserve moisture, reduce weeds and eventually improve the soil. FlowersConsider starting a new garden. Fall is a great time to prepare the soil for future gardens and you can even plant perennials now. The warm soil and cool air temperatures are ideal for root development. Add several inches of organic matter to the top 8 to 12 inches of soil. The organic matter improves the water holding ability of sandy and rocky soils while improving drainage in clay soils. Once the soil is prepared you can purchase or dig and divide perennials for fall planting. Or, leave the garden roughly prepared in fall for planting next spring. A final tilling and raking in spring is all you will need to start planting your new garden. Preparing the soil in advance increases the chance of getting a new garden installed during the typically wet spring weather. Though it’s still too early to plant, now is a great time to purchase spring-flowering bulbs. Whether you order through the mail, online or purchase from your favorite garden center, shopping now ensures a greater selection of varieties. Select healthy bulbs with a strong growing tip. They should be full size, firm and free from signs of insects and disease. Store bulbs in a cool, dark place until it is time to plant. The basement, spare refrigerator or similar location will work. Avoid storing bulbs in a refrigerator that contains ripening fruit (this interferes with flower development) or can be accessed by children who might accidently eat the bulbs. EdiblesHarvest muskmelons when the fruit stem starts to separate from the fruit. Wait for the crack to appear all around the stem for a fully ripe, great tasting melon. Harvest watermelons when the fruits are full sized, dull colored, and the portion touching the ground changes from white to cream. Check the tendrils nearest the fruit for confirmation. These will curl and dry when the fruit is ripe. Northern gardeners can still add short-season and frost-tolerant plants to the garden. You can still plant lettuce, greens, spinach and onion sets. Try growing them in containers that can be moved in and out according to the weather. Or have some frost protection handy for covering on cold nights. Southern gardeners can still plant onion sets as well as cabbage, lettuce, collards and broccoli transplants. Lettuce, spinach, and radish seeds can still be sown. Store leftover seeds in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The controlled environment will help keep the seeds viable for next season. Sunflowers are a favorite for kids of all ages. Not only are they fun to grow they are great to eat - if you can beat the birds and squirrels to the seeds. You may need to do a bit of work to protect some of the harvest for yourself. Cover the flowers with cheesecloth or season extending fabric to keep the birds and squirrels out. Check the head often for ripeness. The seeds are ripe when the back of the flower head is brown or the yellow petals dry. At that time the fluffy covering rubs off the seeds that have developed their characteristic gray stripes. You can eat them fresh or hang the harvested flowerheads upside down in a warm dry place to dry. Remove the seeds by rubbing your hand over the face of the flower. Store the seeds in an airtight container in a cool dark place so you can enjoy your harvest throughout the fall. TopTrees, Shrubs and RosesContact a certified arborist now if your trees struggled through the growing season. They can evaluate the plant's health, severity of the problems and recommend a management strategy. A certified arborist can help you maintain the health and beauty of your trees. These long living plants provide the framework of your landscape that you would like to have for years to come. Check the International Society of Arboriculture's website, www.isa-arbor.com, for a list of certified arborists in your area. Fall is a great time to plant. Call 811 to contact your local utility locating service at least three days prior to planting. They will locate underground utilities and mark their locations so you can avoid damaging them during planting. The service is free and may save you money or your life. Be sure to check above your head for overhead utilities. Avoid planting trees and large shrubs near utility lines. Remember that tiny little plant will grow into a large tree or shrub, so give it plenty of room to flourish and reach its mature size. TopLawns and GroundcoversFall is also a good time to sod bare areas or start new lawns. Add several inches of organic matter to the top 6 inches of soil. Rake smooth and then lay the sod in place. Stagger the seams much like a mason does with bricks. Butt the ends of the sod together to compensate for shrinking that naturally occurs. Then keep the soil moist until the sod roots into the ground. Once rooted, begin watering thoroughly but less frequently. Mow the grass as needed. Check groundcover beds for bare areas. Fall is a great time to fill in voids or create new planting beds. The warm soil and cool air is easier on the plants and minimizes the effort needed to get new plants off to a healthy start. TopIndoorsIt’s time for northern gardeners to start moving houseplants and tropicals indoors for winter. Quarantine these plants for several weeks. Check the stems as well as the upper and lower surfaces of leaves for insects. A strong blast of water and several applications of insecticidal soap can take care of common pests such as aphids and mites. Once the plants have passed quarantine move them to a sunny window indoors. Those moving to lower light areas need to gradually adjust to the decrease in light. Give them several weeks in a bright sunny window, followed by several weeks in a moderately bright window and then place in their permanent location. Don’t be surprised if some leaves yellow and drop. This is just the plants way of adapting to their new location. Reduce this problem by adding some artificial lights to your indoor garden. The extra light will keep plants looking good throughout the winter and the added growing space may be just what you need for all those new plants you purchased this season. Add a new or unusual houseplant to add to your indoor garden. Now is a great time of year to shop and get the best selection. Also, the warm temperatures are easier on the new arrivals as they make their way from the garden center to your home.
ASK MELINDA - Get immediate answers to your gardening questions! Check out my searchable database of more than 30 years of questions and answers, podcasts and videos. LANDSCAPE MAKEOVER IDEAS - Check out my landscape makeover photo gallery to get ideas on making over your yard and then post photos of your accomplishments! MELINDA'S GARDEN MOMENT VIDEOS - In need of more gardening tips that can visually walk you through the process? Watch online streaming video of my nationally-syndicated gardening videos. PODCASTS - Listen to my gardening podcasts |
