To Do This Week:

• protect your tropical plants - move them inside now if you plan on trying to keep them for next year, otherwise remove them from the pond and put them in the compost pile
• cut back hardy plants - hardy plants can be cut back any time now, it's much easier to get the leaf net over the pond if the pants are cut back first.
• cover your pond - you should put a leaf net over your pond to keep most of the leaves and debris out for the next few weeks
• switch to cold water food - your pond water temperature has likely dropped through the 60's by now so it is time to start feeding your fish a cold water food
• clean skimmer net as needed - and it will be needed more and more as leaves begin to fall 
• Stop out to see us and pick up your Autumn Prep Bacteria, Spring/Fall fish food and pond cover net so you're ready for fall   

This weekend is our annual Fall Clearance Sale.

POND SUPPLIES ON SALE!

Special pricing throughout our aquatic greenhouse. 

Look for specials in the rest of the nursery as well - trees, shrubs, perennials and more!

 Sale Dates: Sat. Oct 8 - Mon. Oct 10

tips & tricks

Adding Hardy Plants 

It seems like right now might not be a great time to be adding plants to your pond, but if they are hardy plants, now is a great time. You'll have to wait until spring to enjoy them, but you'll get them for 50% off if you come in this weekend to shop!

We still have quite a large selection of hardy marginal plants that need new homes for the winter. Take advantage of the sale price and bring them home to spend winter with your other aquatic plants.

Not sure what to do with these plants when the weather turns cold? It's pretty simple, actually. Just cut them back to within an inch or two of the soil level and drop them down into an area of the pond that is at least 12" - 18" deep.

Also, review this checklist for overwintering your pond, and watch for pond closing seminars coming up in the next couple of weeks. 

in the garden

To Do This Week:

• put veggie gardens to sleep - in my own garden, I pull out larger plants (like tomatoes), add a layer of compost from my bins right over the top of what's left, and rototill the whole thing.
• transplant trees or shrubs - if you've been wanting to shuffle things around in your yard, now is a great time to do it! Be sure to use a root stimulator (vitamin B-1) 
• divide perennials - as a general rule, unless it is flowering right now, Fall is a perfect time to dig up and divide perennials. 
• compost fallen leaves - keep up with raking leaves as they fall, and add them to your compost pile
• watch for frost - if frost is predicted overnight, throw a sheet (or anything that is not plastic) over your annuals to keep them protected and blooming for just a little longer. Who doesn't want to extend the season? 
• plant mums or pansies for frost-resistant fall color - we've got a great selection of both in our greenhouses. 

Botanical name: Chrysanthemum (hybrids)     

Height: 2' - 3' 

Exposure: full sun

Soil: well drained, require regular watering

Flowering: fall 

Notes: hardy mums (the kind we sell) are perennials and will come back each year.  They are tolerant of cold temperatures and will flower late into the fall.  They are relatively inexpensive, compared to other perennials, and are often treated as annuals used just for fall color.  I personally think they look great in clay pots!

 

Which Way Is Up  

I've been planting bulbs for years and I still have to stop and think sometimes, "Which way is up?" It can be tricky when you look at those funny shaped things.

Each type of plant has a different type of bulb, but in general, most bulbs will have a flat side and a pointy side. Typically, the pointy side points up, and the flat side goes down.

Also, I'd suggest not worrying too much about it if you're not sure. Bulbs have an amazing ability to figure out which way is up and can often overcome any mistakes we make.