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| George Wedel |
As our annual flowering plants bid us good bye and the burning bush out by the vegetable garden begins to turn red, we are reminded that we had better be about our autumn landscape and garden projects. Let's use every good October gardening day to help our lawns, gardens, and landscapes look their best next spring.
October always presents a flood of landscape, lawn and garden opportunities. Experienced gardeners know taking advantage of every good day to plant, fertilize, weed, and seed will reap great dividends next year with plants that are rooted in well, will bloom better and have earlier spring green up with faster growth next year.
Planting spring flowering Dutch bulbs every autumn is high on the priority list for most gardeners. You've seen them in their full glory lighting up the landscape beds on 12th Street and Texas Drive every spring at Wedel's Garden Center. They are none other than Wedel's Pride Tulips. These extra-large blooming tulips on sturdy stems are the hit of the spring flower gardens. Pride tulips are choice Darwin Hybrids that, unlike most tulips, grow a much larger bulb which develops a larger flower. Pride of Texas Township is golden yellow, Pride of Kalamazoo bright red, Pride of Michigan striking pink, and Pride of Portage ivory white. Want outstanding spring garden color? Plant Pride Tulips.
Of course, Pride Tulips are just one of many, many spring-flowering bulbs offered by Wedel's. We have the bulbs you've come to love over the years so if you want to replace or add to, stop by for an excellent selection. While you're here take a look at the beautiful new and unusual varieties we have new for this year. I'm guessing some of those will become your favorites too. Let your imagination soar this fall and see the beauty you've planted come to life next spring.
This fall, when planting your spring bulb garden, be sure your selection includes bulbs that will give continuous blooms from March through June. For successful bulb plantings, plant in well-drained soil at the correct depth with a teaspoon of Bulb Tone fertilizer under each bulb. Spring bulb blooming sequence and planting depth charts are available free at Wedel's.
Other fall projects should include planting grass seed and applying fall fertilizer to encourage lawns to thicken up. With the weather changes at this time of year bringing shorter days and cooler nights, the turf grows less rapid vertically than occurs in the spring. More lateral growth now results in improvement of turf density after the rigors of summer, so fertilization in the fall deserves top priority. Fertilizing now also encourages turf so that more of the carbohydrates manufactured by photosynthesis will be stored, building energy for early spring green-up. I recommend an application of Scotts Fall Fertilizer be applied now and Scotts Super Winter Guard be applied November first.
There is still time to improve lawn soil. If you suspect your lawn soil is too compact, bring samples into Wedel's lawn turf experts for testing. Compact lawn soil will be greatly improved by running a coring machine over the turf and then applying gypsum and Clay Soil Conditioner. Be sure to irrigate lawn with one and one-half inches of water twenty-four to thirty-six hours before coring.
When the snow finally disappears from the lawn in March, many homeowners are dismayed by the mole damage to their lawns. When the ground is not frozen under the security of deep snow, moles begin to plow up your favorite turf. To avoid winter mole damage to lawns and flower gardens, I suggest applying Repellex Mole Repellent soon. I have found one application of Repellex gives me four to five months of mole relief in our yard.
Want a weed-free lawn next spring? If so, kill perennial and bi-annual broadleaf weeds now. One spray of Weed Free Zone broadleaf weed killer in October will assure you of a dandelion-free lawn next spring. Weed Free Zone works well in cool fall weather. As the tree leaves fall on lawns, be sure to remove them quickly or pulverize them with a mulching lawn mower before they smother grass and cause bare spots. Michigan State University research shows that tree leaves, when chopped fine, may be left on the lawn. Sharpening the mower blades will help grind the leaves finer. Take care that the pulverized leaves do not cover the grass blades entirely.
Homeowners that experienced snow mold damage last winter in their lawn should be ready to take preventative measures. Both pink and gray snow mold can damage turf when temperatures range from 32 to 50 degrees and the grass is damp, usually from November through April. Prevention of snow mold is the best way to control it. First, fertilize turf with Scotts Super Winter Guard. Mow the lawn late into the fall if it is still growing; never allow the grass blades to remain long going into the winter. Tall grass will mat under snow loads, which encourages snow mold. Set your mower for the last autumn mowing in November to one and a quarter to one and a half inches.
Two fungicides applied alternately whenever thawing conditions allow will prevent snow mold damage. The first spray should be Halt Systemic fungicide applied in mid-November. The second should be Banner sprayed on turf in December. Repeat these sprays in late February or early March.
Whenever you have gardening questions, feel free to come to Wedel's Nursery, Florist, and Garden Center, your twelve-month horticultural center. The nursery is stocked full of beautiful trees, shrubs, and evergreens now and even after most other garden centers have closed and they've put their nursery stock "to bed" for the winter, we'll be able to help you. Our experienced Michigan Certified Nursery Specialists and Master Gardeners are always happy to help you any day, any season.
If you love the autumn brilliance of the firery red burning bush prepare to be amazed. This month's choice is the Chokeberry Brilliantissima. This Garden Native is known for its exceptional fall color. The scarlet foliage of the fall is complimented by copius clusters of pinkish white flowers against lustrous green foliage in the spring. They are followed by an abundance of fleshy, bright red chokeberries which are one of the best fruits for attracting birds to your landscape. Don't be surprised to see cedar waxwings, chickadees and others coming by for a meal.
The Chokeberry Brilliantissima shrub grows from 4' to 8' and is easily manageable to 3' to 6' heights. Besides being a real beauty it is highly resistant to diseases and insect damage, multiplies nicely and makes an ideal border plant, backdrop for annuals or perennials or as an accent for nearly any part of your landscape. If you're looking for an excellent specimen shrub or even one for use for erosion control take a look at the chokeberry.
This chokeberry has upright stems and multiple suckers which provide an overall oval shape naturally. If spreading isn't desired shallow cultivation can be used to stop the spread of suckers and shoots. Thinning of older stems every few years is recommended.
