Dear Gardening Friends -

Recently, my daughter and I were on a shopping expedition when I spotted two floral-print dresses I had to have.  As I was making my purchase, she asked “Mom, is everything about you flowers?” Well…ah, quite frankly, YES! So, now that she and her two older brothers are back in college, I have more time for my passion of gardening.
 
I started by mowing the lawn (which has been neglected for quite some time) and calculating my plan of attack. Cut the grass. Wait two days. Kill the sedge. Spray for weeds to kill the clover, leaving a few patches for the rabbits, of course. They like it much better than my hostas. And, then, put my name on the list to rent a slit-seeder because after doing all this, half my yard is gone!  I’ll over-seed early September, fertilize, then do the “sprinkler dance” in hopes of having a beautiful stand of grass by October.
 
Looking at all the crab grass that has invaded my sunny garden beds, I’m kicking myself for not putting down crabgrass control this spring. How is it that stuff can grow so fast!   If it doesn’t rain soon, I’ll water and start pulling. Then I can put a fresh layer of mushroom compost down and plant all those perennials that have sat on my deck all summer.

 Most varieties of perennials, shrubs and trees love to be planted this time of year. They’ll have a nice full root system before next summer and be able to handle the heat/drought stress better.  Containers and beds can be rejuvenated with kale, mums, grasses and, of course, our beloved pansies. Plant them now for fall and early winter color.  Their pretty faces will greet you again in early spring with a fresh display of color.
 
Well, now it seems I’ve filled my fall calendar with loads of yard work.  But, it’s a labor of love and a huge dose of therapy.  Just what a mother needs whose 3 out of 4 children have flown the nest!

Happy gardening!

FREE Wine, Refreshments and Seminars throughout the day!

10:00 AM - Butterfly Gardening Seminar
Lexy Wiegel will present us with her extensive knowledge of butterfly gardening. Life cycle of the butterfies, host plants, food plants, chrysalis's and caterpillars are all part of this seminar.

1:00 PM - Fall Container Gardening
Spruce up you containers to enjoy them throughout the fall. Add a few new plants, take out the tired, or begin something new so you can enjoy your containers during our fabulous fall weather.

2:00 PM - Lawn Care Secrets
Learn the essential steps for a lush lawn, choosing the right products, how to make organics work for you and more.

Quick Tips:

This is the most important time for lawn maintenance:

• Repair summer damage by aerating compacted soil, fertilizing and reseeding.
• Aerate when soil is slightly moist for a deeper plug.
• Leave plugs lay to compost into soil.
  
• Seeding requires "New Lawn Starter" for faster, more efficient germination.
  
• Fertilize with Fertilome Lawn Food plus Iron if not reseeding.

Spring bulbs have arrived! We recommend using bulb food when planting (using bone meal can attract voles/squirrels). For beautiful spring color, plant at the recommend depth for the bulbs.

Winter Pansies should be planted now for extended fall color. Pair them with spring bulbs for an outstanding display of early spring color!

Mums will be coming into color very shortly. To give them the best chance of surviving winter, plant them now to give them ample time to take root before winter. Wait to cut back (always cut, never pull) dead foliage until new spring growth appears.

Perennial Beds should be cleaned, deadheaded and damaged foliage cut back.

Fungus has been bad this year and removing debris from beds now helps control problems for next year. An extra layer of mushroom compost will rejuvenate the soil, too.