 |   |
Welcome to fall of 2009. Wow, can you believe it! I think we are all saying the same thing; what happened to summer? Most of the summer we had to dodge rain drops! Oh well, we must move on and get ready for old man winter.
Lawns
Fall is a great time to get the lawn rejuvenated. Most lawns are not looking too bad. As the cool weather hits they should start to look even better. Keeping a strong and healthy turf helps eliminate the need for weed controls. Typically this time of year most people are deciding on doing one or two applications of fertilizer for the fall. If you do two applications the first step is usually a high first number (example: 30-4-6). That will feed the lawn for approximately six weeks. Then you would follow up with a fertilizer with a high middle number (example: 10-18-10) that will put the lawn to bed for winter. With either application if you have existing turf you may reseed. Fall is a great time to reseed because you have less competition from the weeds due to the cool weather and the warm days and cool nights help the seed germinate. A good rule to remember is that grass seed needs good contact with the soil, warmth (from Penn mulch, hay, etc) and moisture. Fall is also a great time to lime. You can bring a soil sample in to us and we will do a free pH test for you. We also provide soil testing to evaluate the nutritional status of the soil. Just pick up a sample bag and instructions. The cost of soil testing will be deducted from your lime and/or fertilizer purchase.
Deer Control
This time of year the deer start getting aggressive (Not that they haven’t been all summer). They like to rub there antlers on the small trunks of trees and they like to EAT! There are many different possibilities for protecting the trunks such as paper wrap, plastic wrap, etc. There are also countless numbers of deer controls on the market; is one better than the other? Who is to say? Everybody has different results in their yard. Most controls over the summer did not last as long as they say because of the countless heavy showers. Deer controls are all natural and have nothing in them that will harm animals, children etc. We do think that rotating your products every few months helps (so they don’t get used to the same scent). We offer a wide variety of products to help you fight the battle! There is also the option of putting a more permanent barrier up. We have light netting, heavy netting, vinyl coated wire and welded wire available to fence your property. For open areas it is recommended to use at least six to eight foot fencing, and around the foundation most people can get away with at least five feet depending on how large of a foundation planting you have. So be smart and realistic, if you have aggressive deer you may need to go higher.
Garden Maintenance
Fall is a great time to cut back the perennials and plant your daffodils, tulips (seriously don’t laugh), hyacinth, and all those beautiful bulbs you see in the spring and think they get planted then. You can also plant trees and shrubs at this time. It is very important to clean up all the dead plants and leaves before old man winter settles in, by leaving this stuff in the beds any insect or disease can hibernate there all winter and pop up in the spring. A major problem for vegetable growers this year was tomato blight. So it is very important to remove the old plant debris. To prevent disease you can bury the old plant debris deep into the soil since most attacks happen from splashing water off the plant and soil. Crop rotation will also help with tomato problems. Plant in different areas your potatoes, eggplant, and peppers since all these crops get similar diseases. Investing in soaker hoses is a great idea so the plants don’t get watered overhead, keeping the leaf surface as dry as possible helps with disease control.
Pond Cleanup
Wake up pond enthusiasts the leaves are falling! It’s time to put the netting over the pond and switch the fish to the cool weather food as they start to slow down their eating habits. As the weather gets cooler, take out your pump so it doesn’t freeze over the winter. It is important that an air hole be kept in the pond over the winter so the gases can escape, you can do this by using a pond heater. The design of the heater is just to keep a small area open. The fish will normally stay to the bottom and not resurface until the water warms up in spring. To help breakdown all the dead plant matter and leaves use Microbe Lift Winter Prep and the pond will be much cleaner in the spring.
Fall and Winter Equipment Service
Last but not least, bring your leaf blowers and snow blowers in for servicing before the rush. If it’s time for a new machine or if the raking and shoveling is breaking your back we carry Little Wonder and Stihl leaf blowers, as well as Toro snow blowers.
See you at Christmas time!
 | |
 | Register your email address. We'll keep you posted on any/all garden related information and Special Events through periodic newsletters. It's a great way to stay informed. |