Timely Tips from Over the Garden Fence
You can catch George Wedel on Over the Garden Fence, 9:05 am Saturdays on AM 590 WKZO.
And return here each week at www.wedels.com for the latest in Wedel's timely tips.
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TIMELY GARDEN TIPS FROM OVER THE GARDEN FENCE AUGUST 24, 2002 The recent rains have truly been a blessing. Already lawns are greening, thirsty plants are refreshed, and local crops are once again flourishing. This much needed moisture not only helped our lawns and plants, it triggers the opportunity to start many late summer and early fall projects. The following is a list of projects that if completed in August or September will give gardeners a jump-start on next spring’s gardening schedule. · Core aerate lawns that have heavy clay soil, remove the cores, and spread clay soil conditioner and gypsum over turf. · Install water garden ponds, waterfalls, and fountains. · Plant shade and ornamental trees. · Remove overgrown shrubs and evergreens in foundation plantings then re-landscape with an up-to-date plan and plants. · Fertilize lawns now with Scotts Lawn Pro Lawn Food. · Transplant most perennial flowers. · Weed and mulch landscape plantings. · Power rake lawns to remove excess thatch. · Transplant needled evergreens. · Plant chrysanthemum plants in the garden or in containers for beautiful autumn blooms. · Kill broadleaf weeds in the lawn. · Continue to remove seed heads and foliar feed annual flowers to encourage autumn flowers. · Rent a power slicer/seeder from Wedel’s rental department to overseed and improve older lawns. · Have garden and lawn soil pH tested. · Adjust soil pH up or down with lime or Ironite. · Transplant strawberry plants. · Fertilize strawberry beds and raspberry plantings. · Dig potatoes. · Paint and fix up lawn and deck furniture so it’s ready to use next year. · Support and trunk wrap newly planted trees for their first winter. · Sharpen lawn mower blades now for best lawn appearance this autumn. · Continue to check susceptible plants for Japanese beetle feeding and spray with Sevin or Pyrethrin. · Start that garden retaining wall or raised bed project you’ve been dreaming about. · Apply Grubex, Diazinon, or Milky Spore to all sunny lawn areas to prevent Japanese Beetle grubs from damaging the turf. Controlling the grubs also reduces the number of adult Japanese beetles that damage many ornamental plants in the summer. These projects are only the beginning of the many possibilities for “green thumbers” to enjoy now through October. Planting, weeding, feeding, and seeding now will help your lawn, garden, and landscape shine this autumn and next spring. What better time could there be to start your improvement project than this coming Labor Day weekend. Last week, we discussed the merits of choosing this time of year to install a new lawn or renovate an older one. We also talked about the benefits of proper soil conditioning before sowing grass seed. Before you purchase grass seed for your lawn project, be sure to consider the following things. A.) How many square feet per pound does it cover? B.) What is the germination rate? (The higher, the better.) C.) What percent is crop, inert, and weeds? (The lower, the better.) What type of lawn would you like? Do you expect the best lawn on the block, play type, picture-perfect, or just green grass? I usually recommend sowing a mixture of seed varieties for a more disease-resistant lawn. Look for, or ask about, these newer varieties; Gnome, Viva, and Baron bluegrasses; Affinity and Pizzazz perennial rye grasses; and Minotaur and Intrigue fescues. If your sunny lawn has experienced Fusarian or patch disease in the past, it is important to choose a Fusarian-resistant grass seed blend, such as Wedel’s 100% Blue bluegrass blend. Remember, it takes the same amount of preparation and labor to plant a quality grass seed blend as it does a low-priced, low-quality blend. It is easy to figure what seed is the best buy – a pound of quality bluegrass contains over one million seeds per pound and covers 350 square feet of new lawn. A pound of low-quality mixed seed could contain half as many seeds and will cover just 250 square feet of lawn. If you are considering improving your existing lawn this fall, or if you will be sowing a new lawn, and if you would like some additional help, come in to Wedel’s Garden Center. Bring in your soil sample for free analysis, talk to our Lawn Pros, and pick up a copy of our Lawn Installation Instruction sheet. Following these proven guidelines will save time and money as well as insuring excellent results. Another “must-do” project for many gardeners is to overhaul their perennial gardens. Overcrowding, worn-out soil, unwanted plants, and that dreaded quack grass are all good reasons to re-do a perennial flowerbed. Many gardeners have perennial flowerbeds that are infested with quack grass. You, no doubt, have tried to cultivate out quack grass or pull the pest out by the roots. These methods seldom work because some of the roots are left in the soil and usually grow back with a vengeance. September is a great time to refurbish perennial flowerbeds and totally rid them of all quack grass. First, give the flowerbed a good soaking, making sure moisture penetrates to eight inches deep. Then lift all valued flower plants. This next step is very critical; after digging up perennial plants that you intend to save, remove all intertwined quack grass roots among the perennial roots. Then set perennials into a nursery holding area. Next, spray all remaining vegetation in the bed to be renovated with Finale Weed & Grass Killer. Wait ten days, then spray again. After four days, dress flowerbeds with composted cow manure, sphagnum peat moss, bone meal, and Plant Tone. Rototill or spade this mixture into the soil five inches deep. If your soil is on the heavy side, rototill in Profile Soil Conditioner. During the ten day wait between sprays of Finale, finalize a new design for your perennial flowerbed. Then shop at Wedel’s for some new varieties that could lengthen the blooming season of the bed. Wedel’s grows and displays a great selection of perennial plants for autumn planting. After soil preparation is complete, dig up the plants you have saved, add the new purchased plants, and start plant placement. Use several hands full of the soil amendments in the root zone of each plant. Before setting the old plants, check to be sure no quack grass roots are trying to “hitchhike” into your new beds. After plants are snuggled into their new home, soak the soil around each plant with plant starter then mulch the entire bed with cocoa hulls or shredded cedar bark. George Wedel |
Timely Tips
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09/21/02 |