Wow! Fall is the perfect time to evaluate the
garden for improvement, and it is the perfect planting time. The cooler crisp
days of October are great for these following garden tips:
Lawn seeding
should be finished by October 15th to insure germination and growth
yet this fall. Choose a seed mix for your lawn area. Fescue blends are spread
at a rate of 5-8 lbs. per 1,000 sq ft on bare ground and 3-5 lbs. per 1,000 sq
ft on a lawn with a 50% stand of grass.
Be sure to aerate
and renovate your yard when over seeding for BEST results. Without these steps,
it is like throwing grass seed on to concrete. Have questions??? Ask the
experts at your Hillermann’s.
Winterize your
lawn mowers before storage, by draining gasoline from the tank and the gas
line. It is also a great time to sharpen
the blades so you will be ready for spring.
Put a
Winterizer fertilizer on all lawns from mid October through November to promote
early spring green growth. Now is a good
time to apply lime if your soils indicate the need. (Acidic soils require lime,
a pH of 6.8 or below.) Use the recommended rate of 50 pounds per 500 square
feet per treatment. Free pH testing is
available at Hillermann’s.
YOUR HOME’S
CURB APPEAL can be enhanced with pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, mums, pansies,
kale, and the great selection of other plants
grown for the fall season.
The average
first frost October 15th to October 20th. A few degrees
of frost protection can be gained by covering tender plants with sheets,
newspaper, burlap or lightweight fabric row covers. DO NOT USE PLASTIC; this
tends to “draw in” the cold temperatures.
Plant bulbs now
for spring bloom. Plant into groupings for a massed effect of spring color. To
fertilize them, use bone meal. Bulb container
gardens can be planted with a lasagna type planting arrangement (layering of
bulbs in potting soil).
October is an
excellent month to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. This gives the plants a
great start in the warm soil and cool weather of fall with plenty of moisture
in the spring to become established before the harsh summer heat and drought. The
plants’ roots will continue to develop under ground until freezing of the soil
stops them.
DON’T take
hummingbird feeders down before mid October. The bird’s biological clock tells them
when to migrate south. THEY ARE NOT dependent on us removing the feeders at a
certain time. Hummingbirds who have
started their migration will appreciate finding your feeders along the way.
Enjoy your
yard and garden in every season!
Time to go… See you in the Garden…
Sandi Hillermann McDonald
