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Hi Y'all!
It's officially fall and we are basking in the sunshine and cool temperatures and hope you are enjoying these October days as much as we are. Our greenhouse is full with the colors of autumn: mums, pansies and violas, winter perennials, cabbage, herbs and veggies abound. Read on to discover gardening tips for this month and find out what's new at the nursery, plus a couple of extras, including a coupon!
Happy Gardening!
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October Garden Checklist
- The average first frost is October 24th.
- Dig up marginally cold hardy bulbs such as caladium, elephant's ear, canna, amaryllis and dahlia. Brush off and store indoors in a cool, dry spot.
- In late October, cut back lantana, cover with a layer of mulch to protect from cold and it will usually return in the spring.
- Collect seeds in your garden from plants such as cleome, cosmos and moonflower, store and plant next spring or share with friends.
- Eliminate insects and plant diseases that overwinter in mulch and plant debris by removing all of these from garden beds and adding fresh mulch.
- Avoid pruning trees and shrubs in October as this can encourage plants to produce tender new growth that can be damaged by an early frost or freeze.
- Now is the time to dig up, divide and move perennials. Cut back spent foliage and blooms as needed.
- This is the best time to plant (or transplant) trees and shrubs!
- Purchase spring-blooming bulbs such as daffodil, hyacinth and tulip and store. Wait and plant them in November.
- Planning to force bulbs for Thanksgiving? Paperwhites need 3-5 weeks to bloom, amaryllis need 6-8 so plan accordingly.
- Plan to overwinter tropicals and houseplants indoors. These need to be protected when temperatures drop below 40 degrees. Both need less frequent water and fertilizer during fall and winter months.
- Halloween: Apply Hi-Yield Pre-Emerge with Dimension to zoysia and bermuda lawns.
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In The Know for October
It's the beginning of pansy season and we are excited as the greenhouse fills with their myriad colors and happy faces. So the question is, when is the best time to plant them? Pansies and violas thrive in cool and cold weather; extended periods of warm weather cause them to become leggy. It is best to plant them after temperatures drop below 80 degrees for good, which is usually by the second week of October.
This season, stock up on pansies and violas and save with our tray discount. Start with larger plants and more blooms with pansies and violas in 4" pots for $1.99 each. Buy a whole tray of 12, any mix of colors, for $19.99 and save $3.89 (buy 10, get 2 free)!
Cool season herbs and vegetables have arrived and now is a great time to fill a bed or container with edibles and seasoning for your winter table. Vegetables that can be grown this season include lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, collards, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, spinach, swiss chard and mustard. Herbs that will thrive in cold weather include parsley (Italian and curly), chives, oregano, thyme, lavender and rosemary. Arugula and cilantro will tolerate a light freeze. |
Just In!
Lemon Cypress
Infuse your winter containers with the crisp chartreuse and fragrant foliage of lemon cypress! The cheerful green contrasts nicely with pansies, violas, ornamental cabbage and kale and ivy. Lemon cypress thrives in filtered or part to full sun.
Ornamental Pumpkins and Gourds
Welcome October with curiously beautiful pumpkins and gourds! Use them to adorn your porch or table; mix in with mums, croton, ornamental cabbage and kale and autumn fern for a stunning autumn display. |
Tread Lightly
The Praying Mantis
 Meet the sniper division of the insect world, and possibly the most terrifying of their domain (if you're unfortunate enough to be the prey): the praying mantises. The word mantis is Greek for prophet or fortune teller, a tame description once you find out more about their habits. Although closely related to termites and cockroaches, the praying mantis, savagery aside, is the noble cousin in terms of both its beauty and benefit to the garden. Praying mantises have unmistakable triangular heads that swivel an amazing 300 degrees and compound eyes that give them exceptional vision. They are masters of camouflage, using coloration to avoid predators and catch prey. Some even mimic leaves, sticks, grass, flowers or stones to blend in. In true sniper form the praying mantis uses surprise tactics and speed to catch prey and can strike in less than 50 thousandths of a second! Once caught, prey is overpowered using strong, spiked forelegs and sharp mouthparts and consumed head first and alive. Prey is anything they can catch and hold on to, including other insects, even other praying mantises, lizards, frogs, snakes and, shockingly, birds and rodents. The next time you walk through your garden see if you can spot one, be sure that it has spotted you, and remember that it is preying on the pesky insects that harm your plants.
*This is the third article in a series on beneficial insects. Check out our e-newsletter archives (August and September 2009 issues) to read the previous two articles. |
Design 101
Mimizing and Maximizing Sun Exposure
Last month's "Design 101" article introduced sustainable design and microclimates (Missed it? Click here to get caught up). Part of sustainable design is working with a landscape's natural environment in order to minimize the input of human resources and energy (the environment in a small area of a landscape is called a microclimate). In other words, applying sustainable design ideas to your landscape can save you time and money! Read on to find out how you can minimize and maximize sun exposure to save on cooling and heating costs and create more useable spaces in your landscape.
The most important aspects of sun exposure for the home landscape are its effects on plant growth and air temperature. The summer sun rises in the northeast, sets in the northwest and moves through the sky at a high angle above the horizon, which intensifies its effect on the landscape. All sides of a home can potentially receive sun exposure in the summer; the north and south sides being the sunniest and the east and west sides being the shadiest. However, in general the south side of a house is the sunniest all year and the north side is the shadiest all year.
The winter sun rises in the southeast, sets in the southwest and moves through the sky at a low angle above the horizon which lessens its intensity. In winter only the south side of a house receives direct sun; the north side recieves very little.
Minimizing Sun Exposure
In summer the north and east sides of a house are naturally the most comfortable as they receive only morning sun. However, strategically minimizing sun exposure on the south and west sides of your home can reduce your cooling costs and make these areas more useable. When sun hits the roof, walls and surrounding pavement of a house, heat is radiated and air temperature is increased. Shady areas are 5-10 degrees cooler than sunny ones, so the addition of shade trees to the south and west sides of your home can increase the useability of these areas during summer months. Trees also give off moisture through their leaves, a process called evapotranspiration, which cools the air considerably. In addition to the use of shade trees, vines and shrubs can be planted along the south and west sides of your home to shield the walls from absorbing heat from the sun's rays. Creating shade can reduce indoor temperatures by 20 degrees and an air conditioning unit in the shade operates 10% more efficiently than one exposed to sun!
Maximizing Sun Exposure
In winter, the south side of a house is the best area for outdoor activities, as it receives the most sun. By maximizing sun exposure in this area you can increase air temperatures outdoors and in and reduce heating costs. Decidous trees planted reasonably close to your home will provide shade in summer but allow sunshine into the area in cold winther months. Plant deciduous shrubs on the south side of your home in order not to block the winter sun. Avoid planting shrubs directly in front of south facing windows which would block sunshine from warming the inside of the house. A paved area on the south side of the house, such as a patio or sidewalk, will absorb and reflect winter sun and raise the air temperature inside and out. | |
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