Picking time is here in the edible garden. It's time to benefit gastronomically speaking from all your hard work. Here are some tips:

Check frequently for ripe produce among all the fruits and vegetables you are picking now. This keeps plants producing. Be especially vigilant of your zucchini harvest. These summer squash are most flavorful when only about 6 inches long!

Avoid breaking, bruising or damaging vines or stems. Wounds on the vine or stem of your plant can be an entry point for disease.

Harvest when it's dry. Tramping through wet foliage can also spread disease.

Got extra? Donate to your local food pantry. They will be delighted to share your fresh produce.

And while you're in the garden, it's time to plant again. Now is the time for cool weather veggies such as fall lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, bok choy and root vegetables, including radishes, beets and turnips, for late fall harvest. Be sure to check the labels for "days to harvest".

Maiden Grass Photo courtesy of Northscaping

Miscanthus s. 'Gracillimus' is a most beautiful and easy-to-grow ornamental grass and should be grown in full sun. It will grow to about 4 feet high, adding another foot when its tan colored blooms appear in late summer. It will typically get 3 - 4 feet wide.

For winter interest, Miscanthus can be left all winter and pruned back in the early spring. Some gardeners, however, prefer to prune it back in late fall. It should be cut at about 8 inches from the ground. New growth begins to emerge each year in spring as the weather warms up. This is the time to divide mature clumps, which will grow into full, new clumps within a couple years.

Mischanthus grows easily in any type of soil. As with all ornamental grasses, Miscanthus is deer resistant. 

Overseeding: This technique includes spreading garden mix over bare or low spots and adding seed. This is best done in the fall when the temperatures cool and the rainfall increases. At this time of year weeds are in decline so you will have less weeding to do than if you tried overseeding in the spring.

Topdressing: This step involves spreading compost lightly throughout the lawn to build the soil underneath. Remember, what you see on top (in terms of green lawn) depends entirely on what lies beneath (in terms of healthy soil)! Compost adds organic matter to build the soil and is an important fall chore in the interest of next season's lawn. Lurvey carries a full line of turf fertilizers for your lawn.

Core aerating: This mechanical process removes plugs of soil to provide additional oxygen to the roots, enabling them to better absorb nutrients and water. It also increases the activity of soil microorganisms and prevents fertilizer runoff. Aeration is best done in the fall when the roots of the lawn are not actively growing.

So, for next year's lush lawn, start your work as the weather cools in August and September!

There's nothing like a wonderful shade tree to give your yard appeal. First of all, of course, they provide shade! A cool respite from the heat of summer is more than just relief from the sun. Shade trees will reduce the temperature. Have you ever noticed how much cooler the woods are than an open field? Each shade tree you plant will bring a bit of this benefit to your yard.

Shade trees also offer food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects. Underground, their roots help keep soil from becoming too compacted. The green in their leaves tells you that they process carbon dioxide and provide oxygen back to the air we breathe. They also add value to your property, especially if they are mature. Who could not like a shade tree?

When selecting a shade tree, you'll want to think about how it grows and what you like. Shade trees have all kinds of growth patterns. They can be oval, spreading, open, or irregular. Shape and leaf type also determines how deep will be the shad they provide. Do you want deep shade or light, dappled shade - or something in between? All these are considerations for selecting your shade tree.

Then you'll need to know where you will put it! How much room do you have, and how much do you want your tree to take up? Do you have other trees in your yard, and if so, will this tree be growing under bigger trees? Some trees, called understory trees, are well suited for this type of location and others are not. Also consider physical barriers like utility wires. They may look to be way higher than your tree, but you need to consider how tall your tree will grow.

Stop in to talk to our staff about all of these considerations!