|
|
|
Hey Y'all!
Fall is a great time to fall back in love with your garden! Not that we don't enjoy the garden in summer, but, let's face it, the crisp, cool fall air makes it a lot easier to get out there and really love it. So, roll up your sleeves, stretch your green thumb and read on to get inspired to garden this October!
See you at the nursery!
P.S. Be sure to check out the coupon at the end of this e-mail- It's a good one! |
|
|
October at the Nursery
Pretty pansy and viola faces have popped up, jewel-toned mum blooms announce fall's arrival, snapdragons nod their shimmering heads, knotty pumpkins fresh from the ground wait to grace your porch or table and delectable lettuce leaves tempt one to taste- Come see all the beautiful choices for your fall and winter garden! |
| |
|
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 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.
|
| |
|
Branch Out This Fall!
Unexpected Fall Color
Mums and pansies are what first come to mind when most of us think of fall and winter blooms but there are many other options to enliven your autumn landscape! October welcomes the arrival of cool-weather lovers such as snapdragons, marigolds, dianthus, celosia and cosmos; add these heavy-bloomers into your mum plantings for extra bursts of color. Try pairing mums and croton on a porch or patio; croton's striking red, orange and yellow foliage makes a fiery backdrop for warm-colored mums. For shadier spots mix in autumn fern for soft green and bronze tones or speckled-leaved ornamental peppers. Ornamental cabbage and kale provide bold foliage through the cold season and dusty miller adds a touch of silver that pops next to blue and purple pansies or violas. Many herbs are evergreen, such as parsley, rosemary, lavender, thyme and oregano and add a scented touch to mixed plantings. Perennials such as holly ferns, heuchera, creeping jenny, ornamental grasses, ivy and angel vine are excellent choices for foliage color and texture. When planning your plantings this fall be sure to search out unusual and unexpected sources of cool-weather color! |
| |
|
Pick a Pansy (or Viola)!
Choosing pansies for your winter garden should be fun, not overwhelming! Here are some things to know to make the decision-making process easy: Generally, the smaller the bloom the more there will be. Larger blooms are slightly less abundant but have stronger stems that are good for picking. Pansy varieties with small to medium blooms include Supreme, Delta and Matrix. Larger blooming varieties are Majestic Giant and Dynamite. Because of their petite blooms, violas are profuse bloomers and can tolerate more shade than pansies. For interesting texture in your flower bed or container try mixing pansies and violas with different sized blooms. |
| |
Get a Head-Start on Spring
Did you know that snapdragons, foxglove and dianthus perform best when planted in the fall? Planting these in October guarantees much bigger plants and more blooms compared to planting in the spring!
|
| |
|
|
