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Greetings!
The first day of autumn arrives in just three days. So why are the magnolias in bloom? I was on a walk yesterday and stopped suddenly to make sure I was seeing clearly. And sure enough right in front of me there were iris in bloom. Why are the burning bush still green and not their brilliant red? The past year's weather has taken its toll on many plants. I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see spring blooming plants blooming in fall. I think I am as confused as the plants.
I enjoyed the brief shower we had Monday evening. Any rain is welcome and I love the chill in the air. There are so many great things to love about fall. Cooler weather, mums, pansies, asters, pumpkins, football and the Plaza Art Fair.
I always look forward to the beginning of a new season. It is so exciting isn't it? It looks as if we have close to perfect weather for the next seven days. Cooler temps in the mornings and warm, sunny afternoons. Rain would be nice but chances are slim. Will we ever get caught up?
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Moisture Minders...
One problem with fall is that it makes us forgetful. Even Savvygardeners sometimes cut back on watering too much this time of year. Your perennials, trees, shrubs, and lawn need that moisture - not like they did in mid-summer but about an inch a week or so. Watering now and through November helps ensure your plants have a healthy root structure going into our often harsh winters.
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Plants That Came In From The Cold...
Once chilly overnight temperatures become the norm you will need to bring your winter houseplants back inside. When you do, make sure to check them for pests. Simply rinsing the plants' leaves, and soaking the pots in water for 15 to 20 minutes will drown most soil-dwelling pests. Also, clean the windows where plants will be placed. It can dramatically increase available sunlight and make for a much healthier plant!
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Tidy Up Around Fruit Trees...
No one likes worms and other pests in their fruit trees. A simple clean up now can dramatically reduce the number of pests that return next year. Just pick up and destroy any fallen fruit, branches, and leaves. Worms and other pests feed on this fruit and debris, overwinter in the soil, and emerge in the spring to lay eggs and start the cycle all over again.
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Garlic Lovers Get Ready... 
Garlic needs to be in the ground at least one month before the soil freezes so now through mid-October is the ideal time for planting. Start by planting the small cloves that are divisions of the large bulb. The larger the clove, the larger the size of the mature bulb at harvest. Do not divide the bulb until immediately before planting. Although some people have had good luck planting the garlic from the grocery store, seedstock from a nursery or via mail-order is recommended.
Garlic needs a full-sun site with loose soil rich in organic matter. Adding compost to the bed is usually a good idea. Plant the cloves (with their pointy sides up) three to five inches apart at a depth of two to three inches. Add a light layer of mulch. Allow 18 to 30 inches between rows or plant five inches apart in all directions if you're using raised beds. Next spring the garlic will push through the soil and mulch. We'll wait until then to complete the directions through harvest.
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Chilly Change In The Air...
This time of year it's not unusual for overnight temperatures to dip into the 40's. Brrr! There's no frost on the horizon yet but keep in mind that our first frost is due in mid-October. Remember that Mother Nature has her own agenda and doesn't have much time for statistics and averages. Surprise early frosts can be a problem if you're not prepared.
For those of you new to Savvygardener.com we hope you will enjoy our timely frost alerts. We send these e-mail, Twitter, and Facebook alerts to all subscribers when we believe an untimely frost is likely. Hopefully we are still several weeks from our first frosty scare. Cross your fingers!
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The Gardener's Workout...
Have you ever noticed how fit Savvygardeners look? It's because gardening is such great exercise! Need proof? Well, Dr. Mark Kantor at the University of Maryland College of Agriculture & Natural Resources has published an article that defines the amount of calories burned doing various activities. It turns out that gardening (see below) can really burn the calories.
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Calories burned during each 10 minutes
of various gardening activities
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Body Weight
| | Activity | 125
Pounds | 175
Pounds | 250
Pounds | | Light gardening | 30 | 42 | 59 | | Weeding garden | 49 | 68 | 98 | | Mowing grass (power) | 34 | 47 | 67 | | Mowing grass (manual) | 38 | 52 | 74 |
Source
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Oh Say Can You Seed?
It's not too late to overseed your lawn - but it's getting close. You should be able to successfully overseed for the next week to 10 days. After that your success will depend on how quickly winter weather arrives. Two quick tips to increase your success: - Keep your new turf well watered through the rest of fall.
- Read our very popular article, Overseeding A Lawn.
The great thing about seeding and overseeding is the low cost and high return. Relatively speaking, grass seed is cheap. If your seeding is successful you wind up with a priceless lawn next spring. If it's not 100% successful you haven't lost much.
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Finally...
"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."
~ George Eliot
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