Like it or not, I think it’s safe to say our summer is over.
If you haven’t yet started fall cleanup in your yard, you probably will
soon—and in another month or so, the last of the yard work will be complete and
you can put your garden tools to rest until spring.
Before you call it quits, though, there are a few items I
would encourage you to add to your “to do” list—accomplishing them yet this
fall will give your lawn and garden a great start next year.
First, have you planted any bulbs? Whether you can boast
having a green thumb or not, there’s no question you can grow spring
bulbs—they’re just plain easy. But if you want to enjoy the color that
daffodils, tulips and other bulbs provide in early spring, you need to start
planting now. At Vander Giessen Nursery, we carry a great selection of early-
to mid-spring bloomers that will finish up just when you’re ready to start
planting your other annuals.
If you have doubts that bulbs are easy to grow, consider the
steps: dig a small hole, drop in a bulb, add a little bit of bone meal to
fertilize and backfill the hole. No need to water, no additional fertilizing
later. You’re done. With the exception of cacti and succulents—and most don’t
grow here anyway—there are very few plants that need such little care. So if
you haven’t, find a place to plant some bulbs for early spring color in your
yard.
Secondly, now is a great time to add lime to your lawn. In
order to keep your grass thick and healthy—and keep moss from taking over—you
need to make applying lime a regular part of your yearly schedule. This summer,
I attended a couple of weddings at the beautiful Evergreen Gardens south of
Lynden. If you’ve ever been there, you’ve undoubtedly seen the lush lawns
growing amongst the stately evergreens. If you have any shade on your yard, you
know how tough it can be to keep grass growing there. Evergreen Gardens’ secret
is lime—and lots of it. Shade or not, adding high doses of lime to your lawn
multiple times a year will help keep grass thick and lush, even in shade. As we
get into the “rainy season,” stop at your favorite local nursery to pick up
Super Sweet lime for your yard. In just a few weeks, it will activate to help
your fertilizer work better and keep moss at bay.
Third, hold off on your fall fertilizer for just a few more
weeks. Chances are you’ve probably seen and heard the box stores advertizing
fall fertilizer for the last month or more, but for our area, it’s still too
early to apply it. Fall fertilizer is designed to store nutrients in the grass
as well as promote root growth for a quick green-up in spring, so for many
parts of the country, that means applying in September or October as lawns go
dormant. Around here, however, grass grows into November, so I encourage you to
wait. Apply Scotts Super Turf Builder Winterguard in mid-November to see the
best results—and if you’ve already done it, you may need to reapply.
Finally, October is still a great month to plant shrubs,
trees and perennials. Fall clearance pricing continues at many local nurseries,
so take advantage of deep discounts to fill some holes in your landscaping.
This month, take a few simple steps to make next spring
beautiful. With minimal effort, you’ll have a healthy lawn and colorful
flowerbeds as another new season begins.
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