The Garden At Rock Cottage by Lance Brilliantine

Fall Upon Us!

Summer has come and gone with alacrity! Now, in mid-September, Indian summer is here with its sunshine, slant of light and tolerable heat. It is time to turn attention away from summer to preparing gardens for winter and a glorious next spring.

One of the more neglected fall activities is watering. Once the summer heat has passed, many people forget plants still need water to survive and get strong for winter. Fall watering is especially critical because roots are unable to take up moisture once the ground freezes. Now is an important time to water gardens/lawns very well before frost/freezing occurs. Be sure to deep soak flowerbeds and lawns to compliment any rain that may occur. Light watering is ineffective and keeps roots near the surface, limiting plant survival over winter.

September is a good time to focus on lawns. Over-seeding lawns in September produces an added boost to dead spots and provides freshness. Both natural and sod lawns benefit from fall aeration. When the soil is moist, aerate the lawn with an automated coring machine.

Aeration holes are a good avenue for soaking in pesticides and fertilizers. Grubs feed near the surface in spring and fall and eat tender roots. Check for a grub infestation by tugging on sections of turf to see if it peels back easily. If the turf peels away like a carpet, it is likely you have a grub infestation. You can apply a grubicide or milky spore powder (this takes a season or longer to work). After applying, subsequent watering will help soak the preparation into aeration holes and eradicate the pests.

Lawn fertilizers can also be applied in September to help lawns over winter. While the temperatures are in the 60's during the day and 40's at night, leaf blades stop growing, but roots remain active. Fertilizers applied during this time feed the roots and help ensure winter hardiness of grasses. Use an organic fertilizer instead of one of the salt-based "winterizers" that are popular in the markets. The salt-based fertilizers actually compact soil and are detrimental to the environment. While they may seem to work for a season or so, they ultimately undermine the natural ecosystem of soil and harm lawns.

There are other important chores at this time of year. Most of them do not yield immediate results, but are of high importance for the longer-term health and beauty of gardens. With about seven weeks before the freeze, now is a good time to transplant or plant woody ornamentals. Just be sure to provide "mucho" water. Now is also the time to dig and store tender bulbs like dahlias, caladiums, cannas and tuberous begonias. Late September is a good time to prune roses and to mulch them heavily before the ground freezes. You can also take cuttings of plants to root and over-winter indoors. Add spring color to the garden by planting bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, alliums, crocus, and others spring bulbs. Planting now provides adequate time for them to develop strong roots and to prepare for a wonderful spring display.

Mulch all perennials with four inches of coarse organic materials once a hard freeze takes place. The cold rarely harms perennials. Rather, the continuing freezing and thawing in winter can heave roots out of the soil and damage them.

Special winter protection may be required for some plants - especially the trunks of fruit trees, maples, and others with thin bark. Rodents and deer love to feed on bark in winter. Purchase white, spiral-type collars that reflect the sun's heat and avoid bark splits. As the season progresses, mulch and wrap fig trees and other marginal plants to help them survive.

September is also the best time to reflect on the season. Aside from the chores mentioned above, September provides time to appreciate and study the garden without the hectic schedules of spring and summer.

You can contact Lance Brilliantine with any questions or comments at GardenLance@yahoo.com.

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