When I was
a kid, I loved summer---no school, warm sunshine and lots of fun and mischief
to get into. Now that I’m a Grandma, my
thoughts on the seasons has also matured. Over the years, I have come to enjoy all the
offerings of fall. The cool, crisp
mornings that gives way to warm days and starry nights. Fall color in Missouri is exceptional with
the turning of leaves on trees-colors so vivid and alive that they jump out of
the landscape. Driving past fields of
pumpkins gets the kids excited that Halloween candy is yet to come. The treat of eating sweet grapes fresh off
the vine and juicy apples plucked from the trees comes to mind. And of course, fall sports begin.
There is no
better time of year than this abundant season to catch your bearings,
reevaluate the year, enjoy the harvest and relax. It is also the best time to take a few
moments to invest in your home. There
are many simple tasks you can do now to help save yourself time in spring when
you are twice as busy.
PLANT,
PLANT, PLANT! Fall in Missouri is the ideal time of year to plant all kinds of
things from cool-season vegetables to turf grasses, and especially shrubs,
evergreens and deciduous trees. Yet,
when it comes to planting, many gardeners only think of the spring. Why is fall such an ideal time to plant? First, the warm soil in the fall helps
encourage root growth. The plants roots
continue to grow through our mild winters, and become well established by the
spring. This makes fall plantings much
better equipped to handle the heat and drought once summer finally
arrives. In addition, our fall and
spring rains help do all the work in establishing your plants so you don’t have
too. There are also fewer pests and disease
problems to attack your plant while it is young.
When fall
arrives, I want to see bright oranges, vibrant yellows, and fiery reds. These fall colors bring life back to our
landscapes after the summer sun has faded most of the blooms. The natural turning of leaves into their
disguised color of glory brings a new energy to our yards and awakens our
senses. Right now, you can find
selections of trees and shrubs especially bred for fall color. There is no reason to have hum-drum
containers during fall when there are Garden Mums and Fall/Winter Pansies to
replace our burnt out summer annuals.
Fall cool floral crops are also great additions to beautiful fall
containers. Adding perennials also
brings new life to containers.
Home
decorating is great fun also to add pumpkins, corn stalks, gourds and other
harvest items to the landscape or porch décor.
In
addition, don’t forget fall bulbs. Now
you will find the best selection, and you have until Christmas to get them into
the ground for spring blooming. Bulbs
need 10 weeks of cold weather to create their magnificent spring show. Many varieties and colors are popping up in
this category of plants as well.
THE POST
SEASON WRAP UP. One of the best-kept
secrets to the most lavish landscapes is autumn restoration. Just a few garden chores done in the fall
will lead to spring and summer pay-offs that are well worth the work. Things to do now include:
Pull
Weeds: Clean up your yard by pulling
weeds. Then apply a pre-emergent such as
Preen containing Trifluran. This will
keep your yard looking nice and weed free for months to come.
Fertilize: It is
important to fertilize your evergreens and conifers at this time because their
root systems continue to grow throughout the late fall and even into the winter
till ground frost appears. An
application of Osmocote or plants spikes is ideal for this task. The plants take up these nutrients and are
ready to explode when the spring growing season arrives.
Prepare
Your Lawn: Were you disappointed in your
lawn this year? Well, now is the time to
prepare your lawn for next spring!
Aerate and thatch it if the soil is compacted. This will allow the soil to drain better and
give it much needed oxygen to the roots.
Seeding can be done as well as fertilizing. Seeding in early fall will give the roots
plenty of time to become established before winter. Fertilize with a winter type fertilizer to
build nutrients up in the root system. This
will keep your lawn from going into the winter hungry and it will help it take
off much faster next spring.
Enjoy the
cool crisp air and I’ll….see you in the Garden
Sandi
Hillermann McDonald
