The Iowa Gardener Logo

...because all the best garden advice is local

October 6, 2011
Can You Believe This Weather?

Veronica in front of Korean spice viburnum 

  

Greetings!

 

This is the best first week of October I can remember in all my 26 years since moving to Iowa. Wonderful weather is forecast through the weekend--the perfect opportunity to get out there putter in the garden.

   My garden is looking pretty ragged, but I'm always amazed what a session of weeding and cleanup can do. I also usually buy a couple of pots of mums for the front door to brighten things up. Also, October is the month to plant bulbs--gotta do that!

   But Midwestern weather can change quickly. Within days, frost is likely to zap my garden. And after frost is when I really get to work on fall cleanup in earnest, tearing out annuals and cutting back most perennials.

   Frost has already nipped parts of Iowa: October 10 is the average first frost date for north central, northeast, and southwest Iowa; October 15 for most of the rest of Iowa; October 20 for southeast Iowa. But we'll do our best to send you a special email alert when frost threatens other areas.

   Click here for information on how to cover plants, which plant to harvest pronto, and other "OMG-it's-going-to-frost-tonight!" tips and strategies.

   Now, I'd better get going to hit Earl May (my favorite spot for quality, full-sized bulbs-not the shrimpy bargain ones that won't bloom well) and get going!

 

Happy Sunny Warm Gardening,

 

Veronica Lorson Fowler   


 
Deck The Windowboxes

 

I've spent a lot of time doing garden styling for various books and national magazines, so I always have a blast this time of year decorating inside and out with everything from cattails from local ditches to cool big blue-gray pumpkins I find at farm stands.

   For easy fall decorating ideas, check out a story I did for the current issue of Iowa Gardening magazine (weirdly, no formal relation to this e-newsletter and web site). It shows you how tFall plants and flowers in a window boxo take the stuff left in your garden this time of year and use it in pots, windowboxes and more.

   Click here to take a look! And please admire the photos, taken by one of my best friends, Ngaire West Johnson of Images by Ngaire.
Advertisement

 Ad for Applehurst     

Click here for directions to Applehurst 

Cool Farm Stand Alert!

 

pumpkins and gourds oh my!My annual challenge is finding some nifty unusual new pumpkins and gourds to grace my kitchen table or accent my front steps. I hit the jackpot recently when I was zipping through Des Moines on I-235. I spotted a monster farm stand, filling a large parking lot with nothing but the most astounding array of pumpkins and gourds, including huge white ones, elegant blue-gray ones, and perfect red-orange Cinderella's carriage pumpkins.

   Called Pumpkin World, it's run by family farmers from Runnells. Turn off the 73rd Street exit and it's immediately north of the freeway, on the west side of the road. 980 73rd St. Windsor Heights. 515-966-0075.

   If you live too far from Des Moines to go to Pumpkin World, click on "Pumpkin Patches and More," a very good Iowa listing by region and even county of pumpkin patches, corn mazes and hay rides. You'll find "The Iowa Pumpkin Farm Network." A great way to spend one of these incredible fall afternoons.

 

 
 Gotta Love a Good List

 

We have some other good fall lists/tips for you, too. Check 'em out:

ash tree leaves in fall against azure sky  A Fall Garden Checklist for Iowa

From simple raking to more elaborate digging and storing tender bulbs, this handy list helps you make sure you get everything done.

 

  A Lawn Schedule for Iowa

Know when to fertilize, plant seed and turf, and more. Great all year round-excellent to tack onto the wall of your garage where you keep garden stuff!

 

How to Cut Back Perennials
Do it in record time this year by trying some innovative techniques.

   

A Planting Calendar for Iowa  

Know what to plant when not just this fall but all year around with this handy-dandy list.

 Garden Quote
 

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile."

 

William Cullen Bryant

Subscribe to this free newsletter.
Issue: 56      

Garden To-Do List

 

For a printer-friendly version of this list, click here. 

 

It's been dry so keep up with watering potted plants. Also be especially sure to water smaller evergreens and newly planted trees and shrubs. They need to go into winter at their strongest!

  

After the first frost, pull up all annuals, including those in the veggie garden. Pitch on the compost heap.

Cut back perennials damaged by the first frosts.

After the first frost, dig up and store indoors any tender bulbs, such as gladiolus, cannas, dahlias, and caladiums, that you want to store over the winter.

Empty all pots and store indoors for the winter. In Iowa's harsh winters, even plastic containers will crack and clay pots will definitely shatter.
 
If you have any newly planted trees, especially fruit trees, wrap them with a protective tree wrap now. It prevents sun scald and also prevents rabbits and rodents from nibbling the tasty bark. Remove in spring.

Perennials and strawberries do best with 1 to 4 inches of a loose, removable mulch over and/or around them. Leaves chopped by running a mower over them are perfect.

Protect roses. Mound all but rugosa roses around the base with 8 to 12 inches of compost or rich, dark soil to protect the bud union (right above the roots) from winter cold.
   Hybrid teas, grandiflora, and floribunda roses--the least cold hardy types--are more likely to survive the winter if you also wrap their stems in burlap and twine.
   Click here for more into on types of roses for Iowa.

Plant spring-blooming bulbs. Water well after planting.

Plant mums as desired. You can buy them now in full bloom.

Force bulbs now, as desired.

  Fertilize cool season lawns, such as Kentucky bluegrass, ryes and fescues, to encourage good root growth.
   Also fertilize warm-season grasses, such as zoysia, also to prompt them to green up faster in spring.

Rake leaves as needed. Keep them off the grass--they can suffocate turf.

Do one final mowing after the first frost.

 

Upcoming Garden Events 

 

Sunday, Oct. 16   

Fall Harvest Festival

Des Moines Botanical Center  

1:00-4:00 p.m. Bring the whole family to enjoy Freight Train Frank, sip hot cider, popcorn, clowns, balloons, and train rides. Pick up mums and pumpkins for sale. $1-$5 admission.  

 

Saturday, Oct. 22 Autumn Hullabaloo

Iowa Arboretum,

Madrid  

Grab your costume and head to the Arboretum for fun fall events! 515-795-3216 for details.

 

Saturday-Sunday, September 29-30    

Spirits in the Gardens

Reiman Gardens, Ames 

4:00-7:00 p.m. Just after the new moon, enjoy six giant costumed insects roaming the garmes with craft stations, games, stories, and other Halloween activities. Free to children under 15. Regular admission for others.   

   

For more upcoming Iowa garden events, click here.

Have a garden event or events that you'd like featured in The Iowa Gardener? Click here and send us your information.

.