| Preparing for the Winter Months: Gardening in | | | | watering method, particularly for lawns and large |
| OctoberWhen you feel that first solid bite in the | | | | areas. Sprinkler irrigation works best with well-draining |
| breeze and you see the songbirds winging their way | | | | soils and shallow-rooted plants, or where a cooling |
| south, and the trees are bursting with fire-laden hues, | | | | effect is desired. But sprinklers have several |
| you know you can't be spending the weekend curled | | | | disadvantages. They waste water, since much of it is |
| up by the fireplace with a good book. Not for | | | | sprayed on areas other than the root zone around |
| long.While the weather is still gardener-friendly, you | | | | the plant. Because much of the water is thrown high |
| must shorten your "to-do" lists for the coming of late | | | | in the air, loss due to evaporation can be significant. |
| fall and early winter. Now is the time to attack your | | | | Sprinklers can also foster fungal diseases and other |
| lawn and garden by planting your spring bulbs, buying | | | | problems with some plants such as roses that don't |
| and maintaining your trees and shrubs, doing your late | | | | like having wet foliage. Sprinklers require good water |
| autumn lawn care, using common-sense watering | | | | pressure and are best used on plants which are not |
| strategies, building a compost bin and making your | | | | in bloom. Several types of sprinklers are |
| own compost, controlling the many common garden | | | | available.Building a Bin and Making Your Own |
| pests, and winning at the weed-whacking war before | | | | CompostA bin will contain your compost pile and |
| the sudden onset of the fickle, cold and all-enveloping | | | | make it more attractive as well as keep it from |
| winter season.Planting Your PerennialsPlant the | | | | spilling or blowing over into your yard. A circular or |
| spring-flowering bulbs until the ground becomes | | | | square structure can be made from fencing wire. The |
| frozen, and prepare your tender but tenacious | | | | idea is to push the compost material together to |
| perennials for the coming seasonal changes. | | | | make it heat up and rot properly. The bin should be |
| Remember that in the milder climates, bulbs can still | | | | at least three feet wide and three feet deep to |
| be divided and transplanted. Plant hardy bulbs anytime | | | | provide enough space for the spreading material. Use |
| before the soil freezes, but it's best to plant them | | | | untreated wood or metal fence posts for the |
| early enough so the root systems can grow before | | | | corners and wrap sturdy wire fencing around them. |
| winter arrives. In some climates, you can plant until | | | | The fence mesh should be small enough that rotting |
| Thanksgiving or even Christmas. Late-planted bulbs | | | | materials won't fall out. When the compost is ready, |
| develop roots in the spring, and may bloom late. But | | | | unwind the wire and scoop from the bottom of the |
| they'll arrive on time by next year.Be sure to position | | | | pile. Then re-pile the undecomposed material and |
| the bulbs at their proper depth. They must be | | | | wrap the wire back around the heap.Many hard-core |
| planted so their bottoms rest at a depth | | | | gardeners feel that three compost bins are the best |
| two-and-a-half times each bulb's diameter. In | | | | for serious composting. By building a trio of bins you |
| well-drained or sandy soil, plant an inch or two deeper | | | | can compost in stages: one bin will be ready, one will |
| to increase life and discourage rodents.Choosing Your | | | | be brewing and one will always be starting. Installing a |
| Trees and ShrubsOctober is a wonderful time to | | | | cover, such as a plastic tarp or a piece of wood, |
| shop for trees and shrubs at the nursery. They're | | | | helps to cut odor, control moisture and keep out wild |
| now showing their best and brightest colors there. | | | | pests. You will also want to use the right ingredients |
| You can plant them now and over the next few | | | | for a proper, lovely smelling rotting compost heap.It's |
| months, so that strong, healthy roots will grow over | | | | easy to cook up your own pile. At first, layer grass |
| the winter.You must carefully plan out your landscape | | | | clippings with a dash of leaves and twigs to create a |
| to choose which trees you wish to plant for | | | | concoction that turns into humus, the best plant |
| providing proper lawn coverage and the most | | | | food. Added ingredients for the compost comes |
| beautiful scenery. When an appropriate tree is | | | | from everyday waste in the kitchen and yard. But |
| purchased, selected and planted in the right place, it | | | | avoid any items that ruin your compost. Use green |
| frames your home and beautifies your land, making | | | | materials such as fruit and vegetable scraps, |
| both more enjoyable. Trees can greatly increase the | | | | eggshells, coffee grounds, and grass and plant |
| resale value of property, and even save you on | | | | clippings; and brown materials, such as leaves, wood |
| energy costs.Visualize your new trees at maturity | | | | and bark chips, shredded newspaper, straw and |
| while realizing that some trees develop as much | | | | sawdust from untreated wood. Avoid using any |
| width as height if given enough space to develop. | | | | meat, oil, fat, grease, diseased plants, sawdust or |
| Picture each tree's size and shape in relation to the | | | | chips from pressure-treated wood, dog or cat feces, |
| overall landscape and the size and style of your | | | | weeds that go to seed or dairy products. These can |
| home. Trees peaking at forty feet do best near or | | | | befoul, spoil and make smelly and rancid a perfectly |
| behind a one-story home. Taller trees blend with | | | | good productive compost heap.There are two types |
| two-story houses and large lots. Trees under thirty | | | | of composting: cold and hot. Cold composting is as |
| feet tall suit streetside locations, small lots and | | | | simple as piling up your yard waste or taking out the |
| enclosed areas such as decks and patios.There are | | | | organic materials in your trash such as fruit and |
| two basic types of trees you will be considering for | | | | vegetable peels, coffee grounds or egg shells and |
| purchase. Deciduous trees include large shade trees | | | | then piling them in your yard. Over the course of a |
| which frame areas with a cool summer canopy and a | | | | year or so, the material will decompose. Hot |
| colorful autumn rack of superior colors. In winter, | | | | composting is for the more serious gardener; you'll |
| their silhouettes provide passage for sunlight. These | | | | get compost in one to three months during warm |
| trees can shade a southern exposure from | | | | weather. Four ingredients are required for |
| summertime heat, and allow winter sunlight to warm | | | | fast-cooking hot compost: nitrogen, carbon, air and |
| the house. Evergreen trees have dense green foliage | | | | water. These items feed microorganisms, which |
| that suits them for planting as privacy screens, | | | | speed up the process of decay.Concentrated Pest |
| windbreaks or backdrops for flowering trees and | | | | ControlSlugs and other pests don't disappear as the |
| shrubs. But they are handsome enough to stand | | | | weather gets cooler. You'll find them at all life stages |
| alone. They do not lose their leaves, called needles, | | | | in October, from eggs to youngsters and adults. For |
| and provide year-round shelter and color. You should | | | | slugs, use whatever measures you prefer, salt, slug |
| be sure to include a wide variety of both kinds of | | | | bait or saucers of beer to eliminate them. It's best to |
| trees in your landscape to avoid losing them to | | | | catch them at the early stages to stop the |
| diseases or pests. Buy disease- and pest-resistant | | | | reproduction cycle. And keep the ground well-raked |
| trees.When buying a tree, look for healthy green | | | | and tidied to reduce their natural habitat.Here's a list |
| leaves if it has any, and also well-developed top | | | | of common garden pests and how to control |
| growth. Branches should be unbroken and balanced | | | | them:Thrips: Adult thrips are about one-sixteenth-inch |
| around the trunk, and on dormant or bare-root stock | | | | long and have dark bodies with four fringed wings. |
| they should be pliable. Examine the roots, which | | | | Their size makes them difficult to detect in the |
| should form a balanced, fully-formed mass. Reject | | | | garden. They attack young leaves, flower stalks and |
| trees with broken or dried-out roots. Avoid trees | | | | buds. Spray young foliage, developing buds and the |
| showing signs of disease, pests or stress such as | | | | soil around the bush with an insecticide containing |
| wilting, discoloration, misshapen leaves, scarred bark | | | | acephate.Cane borer: This insect is the maggot of |
| and nonvigorous growth. Consider the size of the | | | | the eggs laid by sawflies or carpenter bees in the |
| tree. Young trees have a better rate of success | | | | freshly-cut cane of the rose after pruning. One |
| when planted, and most flowering trees grow quickly, | | | | telltale sign is a neatly-punctured hole visible on the |
| so start with less expensive, smaller specimens. And | | | | top of the cane. To remove the pest, cut several |
| be sure and buy all your plants from a good quality | | | | inches down the cane until there are no more signs |
| nursery with a decent reputation.Don't prune a newly | | | | of the maggot or pith-eaten core. Seal all pruning cuts |
| planted tree unless its form needs improving. Prune | | | | with pruning sealer.Japanese beetle, Fuller rose beetle: |
| flowering trees in spring, after blooming, to correct | | | | These will eat parts of the foliage and sometimes |
| unsightly problems. Crab apple trees are an exception | | | | the flowers. Pick beetles off the bush by hand. Or |
| and should be pruned in late winter. But you can | | | | spray foliage and flowers with an insecticide |
| remove diseased or dead branches anytime of the | | | | containing acepate or malathion.Leaf miner: This insect |
| year, and much of this is done during the winter. | | | | can be spotted on foliage by the appearance of |
| Apply fertilizer when needed in the second and | | | | irregular white chain-like blisters containing its grub. |
| subsequent growing seasons. Mulch to conserve | | | | Remove foliage and discard it to prevent further |
| moisture, reduce weeds and eliminate mowing near | | | | infestation.Spittle bug: This small, greenish-yellow |
| the tree. Spread wood chips or bark four inches deep | | | | insect hides inside a circular mass of white foam on |
| and as wide as the tree's canopy around the base. | | | | the surface of new stems, usually during the |
| But don't mulch poorly drained oversaturated soil. | | | | development of the first bloom cycle in early spring. |
| Wrap tree trunks after planting to prevent winter | | | | Spray a jet of water to remove the foam and the |
| damage from weather and pests. And stake young | | | | insect.Roseslug: When you see new foliage with a |
| trees, especially bare-root trees and evergreens, to | | | | skeletonized pattern, indicating that it has been |
| fortify them against strong winds. Stake loosely and | | | | eaten, chances are it's the roseslug. Remove the |
| allow the tree to bend slightly, and remove stakes | | | | infected foliage and spray with insecticidal soap or an |
| after one year.Shrubs are often planted and used | | | | insecticide that contains acephate.Leaf cutter bee: As |
| merely as foundation plants or privacy screens. But | | | | its name implies, this very small yellowish-green insect |
| shrubbery foliage is vastly more versatile, and can go | | | | jumps on the undersides of foliage to feast, often |
| a long way toward livening up your landscaping. | | | | leaving its white skin behind. The damage caused by |
| Countless varieties of gorgeously hued and beautifully | | | | this insect often results in defoliation. Use an |
| leafed shrubs are available through nurseries and | | | | insecticide containing acephate or malathion to |
| garden catalogs.You must start by learning what | | | | prevent it from establishing a strong colony.Rose |
| varieties thrive in your area. Try visiting your local | | | | scale: This insect hides under gray scales, normally on |
| arboretum, where you may view different kinds of | | | | old canes or stems. It feeds by sucking the sap, |
| shrubs and decide whether they fit your gardening | | | | weakening the plant. If the infestation is localized, try |
| plans. Decide what overall look you want at different | | | | removing it with a fingernail. Or spray with an |
| times of the year, and then find out which shrubs will | | | | insecticide containing acephate.Weed Whacking Made |
| be flowering, producing berries or sporting colorful | | | | EasyActually, this is a slight exaggeration. There's no |
| foliage at those times. Compare what you find to the | | | | rest for the wicked. Keep staying ahead of your |
| inventory at your local nursery, and ask the | | | | nasty weeds all this and next month. They serve as |
| professionals who work there lots of | | | | Home Sweet Home for all manner of pests and bugs, |
| questions.Understand the characteristics of each | | | | and destroying them before they flower and seed |
| shrub before you plant it. Flowering and fruit-bearing | | | | will save you much work in the future.Preparation is |
| shrubs enhance a new home, but improper pruning | | | | the key. All gardeners know what it's like to have |
| and care will ruin the beauty of all your hard work. | | | | their yards invaded by unwelcome plants. Although |
| Some shrubs bloom on second- or third-year wood. | | | | there's no really easy way to banish weeds, there |
| If you're maintaining a shrub because you're hoping | | | | are a few solid techniques you can use to reclaim |
| it's going to blossom, but you're cutting off first-year | | | | your turf. At the very least, you can limit this utmost |
| wood every year, it's never going to bloom.Some | | | | in hostile takeovers.Here is a simple outline of |
| varieties are a foot tall at maturity, while others | | | | effective battle strategies you can use in the fall:1) |
| reach over fifteen feet. A large shrub will usually | | | | Be a mulching maniac. Mulch acts as a suffocating |
| require more pruning. Also determine the plant's ability | | | | blanket by preventing light from reaching weed |
| to tolerate various soil conditions, wind, sun and | | | | seeds. At the same time, it holds moisture for your |
| shade. You don't put a plant that's sensitive to the | | | | plants and provides nutrients for your soil as it |
| elements in an open area. Use hardier plants to | | | | decomposes. Apply coarse mulch, such as bark or |
| shelter it.Not all shrubs work in every climate. Witch | | | | wood chips, directly onto soil. Leaves, grass clippings, |
| hazel, for example, blooms in fall or winter and is | | | | or straw work better as a weed deterrent with a |
| hardiest where minimum temperatures range from | | | | separating layer of newspaper, cardboard or fabric |
| thirty degrees below zero to twenty degrees above. | | | | between them and the soil.2) Water those weeds. |
| It would not be a good choice for very dry, hot | | | | Pulling weeds is easier and more efficient when the |
| climates. But some shrubs such as buddleia, | | | | soil is moist. You are more likely to get the whole |
| hydrangea and spirea perform well across a wide | | | | root system, and your yanking won't disturb |
| range of growing zones.Late Autumn Lawn | | | | surrounding plants as much either. No rain? Turn on |
| CareAerate lawns in mid- to late-October, while the | | | | the sprinkler or even water individual weeds, leave |
| grass can recover easily. If you core aerate, make | | | | for a few hours and then get your hands dirty. Just |
| your cores three inches deep, spaced about every | | | | ignore the strange looks from your neighbors as you |
| six inches. Break up the cores and spread them | | | | lovingly water your weeds.3) Cut weeds down in |
| around. If your lawn needs it, thatch and follow with | | | | their prime. Weeds love open soil. But if you till or |
| a fall or winter fertilizer. Even if thatching isn't needed, | | | | cultivate and then wait to plant, you can |
| your lawn will be happy for a dusting of fertilizer to | | | | outmaneuver the weeds. Till the ground at least |
| help roots gain strength before the spring growing | | | | twice before you plant. Your first digging will bring |
| season. Overseed bald patches or whole lawns as | | | | dormant weed seeds to the surface where they can |
| needed. | | | | germinate. Watch and wait for a few weeks until |
| Rake and compost leaves as they fall, as well as | | | | they begin to grow. Then slice up the weeds again |
| grass clippings from mowing. If left on the ground | | | | with a tiller or a hoe, only don't dig as deep. Now it |
| now, they'll make a wet, slippery mess that's inviting | | | | should be safe to put precious plants into the soil.4) |
| to pests.Good gardeners use heavy-duty molded | | | | Pass the salt. Try sweeping rock salt into crevices |
| plastic for shaping neat edges of beds. You can buy | | | | between paths. Although more harsh, borax also |
| these from garden centers, nurseries and mail order | | | | works well. Be sure to wear rubber gloves with the |
| suppliers in rolls of flat, four- to six-inch-tall plastic, and | | | | latter material. You might need to apply a few doses, |
| the edging installs easily. You'll save yourself countless | | | | but be aware of any surrounding plants because both |
| hours of removing grass and weeds that otherwise | | | | products kill the good plants along with the bad.Food |
| creep into your beds.Watering Your Lawn and | | | | for ThoughtIn addition to performing these autumnal |
| GardenYou can't forget about watering in the middle | | | | lawn and garden duties, you may want to harvest |
| of fall. The summer's long over, but proper moisture | | | | your fall vegetables such as the perennial squashes. |
| now is key to your plants' survival over the cold | | | | Do a taste test and harvest them when flavor is at |
| winter months. You're likely to hear two pieces of | | | | its peak. If you'd like to extend the harvest of |
| advice on watering. One is that you should give | | | | carrots, turnips and other root vegetables, leave |
| established plants an inch of water per week, | | | | some in the ground to mulch as the weather gets |
| whether from rain or irrigation. The other is that | | | | colder. Early next month, before temperatures drop |
| personal observation of your own garden is the only | | | | too much, seed cover crops such as clover, peas or |
| way to judge how much water it needs. One fact | | | | vetch to enrich the soil. It will serve as a natural |
| about which there is more agreement: the ideal is to | | | | fertilizer, stifle weed growth and help loosen up the |
| maintain constant moisture, not a cycle of wet soil | | | | soil for next year's crops.As for your houseplants |
| followed by dry soil.Although overwatering can be as | | | | that you've put outside for the summer, if |
| big a problem as underwatering, most gardeners err | | | | September was mild enough that your geraniums and |
| on the side of too little. Your needs will vary through | | | | other such plants are still outdoors, be sure to make |
| the year depending on the rate of evapotranspiration | | | | them cozy inside before the first frost takes a bite |
| in your garden. Evapotranspiration refers to the two | | | | out of them. Take geranium cuttings of two to four |
| ways that plants lose water. There's evaporation, the | | | | inches to root indoors. If you treat houseplants |
| loss of water to the air from soil, water and other | | | | chemically, be sure to keep them warm and away |
| surfaces. Then the other way is called transpiration, | | | | from direct sunlight. Fertilize houseplants now and |
| or water lost primarily from the leaves and stems of | | | | they won't need it again until March. And remember |
| the plants. You can often obtain evapotranspiration | | | | to get your poinsettias and your Thanksgiving and |
| rates for local areas from water departments and | | | | Christmas cacti ready for well-timed holiday color. |
| other agencies. You will see a graphic description of | | | | Give them a daily dose of ten hours of bright daylight |
| how a plant's natural need for water changes during | | | | or four hours of direct sun and fourteen hours of |
| the growing season.In the meantime, keep these | | | | night darkness. Cacti need a cool environment of fifty |
| pointers in mind:1) Water when it's needed, not | | | | to sixty degrees, while poinsettias prefer a warmer |
| according to the calendar. Check the top six inches | | | | sixty-five to seventy degrees. Be sure and let your |
| of the soil. If it's dry and falls apart easily, water. | | | | cacti dry out between waterings.For a true |
| Your plants will also show signs that they need | | | | gardenaholic, winter is often considered to be the |
| water. Wilting, curling or brown leaves mean that | | | | enemy. But with a few steps toward preparation in |
| your plants may lack adequate water. Meanwhile, | | | | the early- to mid-fall, you can take care of your lawn, |
| bear in mind that excess water creates a lack of | | | | garden and houseplants in a way that will keep them |
| oxygen in plants, making them show similar | | | | thriving and surviving until the dawning of yet another |
| symptoms to underwatering.2) Water slowly, not | | | | most welcome and bountiful springtime.The |
| more than one-half inch of water per hour. Too much | | | | information in this article was gleaned from the MSN |
| water can be lost to runoff. This is why handheld | | | | House and Home website and the Better Homes and |
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