Tips for September

Tips for September

TREE & SHRUBS

Prune summer blooming shrubs. Now is also the time of the year to prune trees that "bleed" badly such as Birches and Maples. Check for insects and disease too.

ROSES

Replace mulch were necessary. Feed for last time about six weeks before first expected frost. The first expected frost date this year is appox. 11/10/2006. Continue controlling insects and diseases with ROSEPRIDE SYSTEMIC ORTHENEX. Cut back faded blooms to a healthy outside bud with five leaflets. Watering is one thing that you cannot do enough of for a rose. It is difficult to give a rose too much water. Water a rose from the bottom of the plant (by the roots) to prevent black spot. Normally a rose should receive 1 to 2 inches of water per week. During hot and dry weather it may be necessary to water every 3 to 4 days. Water should be applied at a depth of 12 to 18 inches to encourage deep root growth.

FLOWERS

Fall is the best time to divide perennials. There are three reasons for dividing perennials. One is to control there growth, another is to rejuvenate them or propagate them. (If you're nice give them to your neighbor) By nature most perennials grow larger each year, usually by spreading. Left alone the clumps expand until they compete against themselves. The plants on the outer edge thrive in fresh soil, But those in the center suffer for lack of soil nutrients, moisture, light and soil. The result in not dividing is a circle of healthy plants on the outside while the center is dying. The general rule of thumb is to divide spring and summer blooming plants in the fall . Late summer or Fall blooming plants should be divided in the early spring to give the plant the whole season for the roots to take. Before dividing decide which plants can be saved, which to dig out altogether, and which to replant elsewhere. To make digging and dividing easier, water the plant beds well a few days beforehand. Prune the plants that are going to get divided 6" from the ground, so that you can see what needs to be done. Planting fall mums can be done at this time.

LAWNS

Cool nights bring few lawn problems with lawn care.

Weeding:

Now is the time to apply a weed & feed (such as winterizer plus 2).Young weeds are easy controlled before they set new seeds for next year.

Seeding:

Seeding is best done in the fall, but before you seed, you should dethatch your lawn or find out if you have to. To check thatch thickness cut out a plug from the lawn with a knife. Thatch from ¼" to ½" in thickness is normal, more then a ½" is harmful to the lawn.

Thatch:

Thatch reduces the rooting depth of grass. Thatch interferes with the flow of nutrients, fertilizer, insecticides , fungicide's water and air to the roots. Insects and diseases live in a thick layer of thatch. Thatch builds up when the lawn is over fertilized, over watered or when the soil is too acidic. Grass clippings from mowing do not contribute to thatch.
Thatch that has been allowed to accumulated over many years should be removed slowly. The best time is now.

Over seeding:

Although Annual rye is popular for over seeding, Turf -type perennial rye is a better choice for over seeding. It is a dark green and has a slower growth rate then annual rye which results in less mowing. Fine fescue is also good for over seeding, use it alone or in combination with turf-type perennial rye.

Fertilizing and liming:

Cool season grasses such as bluegrass, rye and fescue should be fertilized in the fall. A lawn that is fed now with (SCOTTS Winterizer or Winterizer plus 2) spends less effort on top growth and more on root growth. The result is a stronger start next spring. Lime is applied in the fall to be washed in by the rains . When seeding and then fertilizing the order of application is thatch, rack, fertilizer, lime and seed.

VEGETABLES:

Continue harvesting your fresh vegetables and herbs. Clean all dried up plants, and plant a cover crop in the garden. Cover crops such as winter rye are planted to till under in the spring. Their purpose is to provide a source of humus for your garden. This is known as green-maruring and should be dug into the soil just before coming to flower.

Last Updated:May 21, 2006