Greetings!

I was reading past October newsletters and two out of three mentioned rain deficits for the state. Add 2012 to the list too. It was 2010 that we had an abundance of rain which caused flooding. Evergreens are particularly susceptible to winter injury if they go into the cold season with inadequate water. Check out the 2009 newsletter which covered tips to protecting evergreens from winter's harsh elements.

Think you have quackgrass in your lawn. Find out how to eradicate this common weed in the October 2010 archived newsletter.

The University of Minnesota Extension Office wants us to take a second look at our fall lawn fertilizer application. The long-standing recommendation for a late-fall fertilizer application was to apply after the last mowing of the year. The theory was that the nitrogen would be absorbed by the turfgrass roots prior to winter, but would not be utilized for growth until the following spring.

Due to new research, apply your fall lawn fertilizer by mid-October. Photo: Andrew Hollman, U of MN

Turfgrass absorption of nitrogen reduces as temperatures cool into the fall. And as temperatures drop lawn grass growth decreases. Extension also took into account other factors when revising their application guidelines. The costs of producing nitrogen fertilizers have more than tripled in the last decade due to the rising price of fossil fuels used for nitrogen fertilizer production. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed a nitrate standard on drinking water. Lower temperatures slow absorption of the nutrients which means the fertilizer application has high potential to move off-site -a costly, inefficient use of fertilizer. Based on these factors, they refined the late-fall nitrogen fertilizer recommendation.

New Recommendations for Late Fall Lawn Fertilizing

For More Information

Rethinking Fall Fertilizer by University of MN Extension (scroll down to find piece)

I believe ornamental grasses are in their glory in fall. Their seedheads are present and fall color is blazing. Find a place in your landscape for switch grasses, scientifically known under Panicum virgatum.

'Prairie Fire Red' switch grass develops red tips in summer.

'Prairie Fire Red' switch grass features airy plumes of green flowers rising above the foliage in mid-summer. Its attractive grassy leaves are bluish-green in color with prominent dark red tips. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous gold in the fall. The brown seed heads are carried on showy plumes displayed in abundance from late summer to mid fall.

'Prairie Fire' will grow to be about 4 feet tall by 3 feet wide. It tends to be leggy, and should be under-planted with lower-growing perennials. It grows best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is considered to be drought-tolerant.

Other switch grasses include 'Northwind' which features airy plumes of rose flowers rising above the foliage in mid-summer. Its attractive grassy leaves are olive green in color and 'Shenandoah'. 'Shenandoah' has airy plumes of rose flowers with green grass blades with prominent ruby red tips. The foliage turns a gorgeous burgundy in the fall with brick red seed heads on display from late summer to mid fall. The brick red stems add winter interest. It will grow to 3 feet tall with a spread of 32 inches.

To Do List for October

Recycle Holiday Lights

Online Garden Journal

U of MN Extension