|
|
Anticipation is in the air. As I write my message to you we are only two days away from the marriage of our daughter Heather (she is one of 4 kids and our first to get married). The ceremony is taking place in our 1860's barn and the reception under a 'big top' on the north side of the house. Everything is being done to ensure that things will run smoothly and not be a circus.
 |
|
|
Things To Do in September
1. Dig and divide. Perennials that flowered in early to mid summer can be dug up and divided. Replant the divisions around your yard in the appropriate places or give them away if you have run out of space. A short list of candidates are: peonies (mid September is the BEST time to divide mature plants), hostas, monarda, daylilies, rudbeckia and veronica. Be sure that the soil is moist when you dig up the mature perennial. See the segment that Jeff and I created for CTV Canada AM on Wednesday, September 5 at 8:45 a.m. or see it streamed at http://canadaam.ctvnews.ca/gardening
2. Plant spring flowering bulbs. The boat has arrived from The Netherlands and I recommend that you check out the selection at your favourite retailer for the best selection of the season. Fact is, they don't replenish the 'hard to find' varieties of tulips, daffodils, narcissus, hyacinths and the like later in the fall season. Even if you just store your new purchases in your garage for a few weeks, at least you have the varieties and colours that you really want.
3. Speaking of spring flowering bulbs, check out the Mark's Choice bulb collections at Home Hardware. We introduced a new line of winter hardy bulbs last year and we sold out in most stores long before the end of the season. The collections include 'Naturalizing' bulbs that will grow and improve year over year, a 'Canadian' collection that celebrates our great country with names like Vancouver, Calgary, Mountie and Toronto. All great garden performers. There is a 'Fragrance' collection and a Deer & Rabbit Resistant collection. All great value for the money.
4. Compost: a. empty b. fill. Not to oversimplify this, but your garden needs the natural goodness that is contained in your backyard composting unit and your now-empty composting unit will provide a valuable service this autumn when the leaves fall and you yank your spent annuals and veggie plants out of the ground. More on this in October newsletter.
5. Start a new lawn or thicken an established one. This is the best time of year to sow fresh grass seed. Germination is sure and quick with the cool evening temperatures, increased rainfall and the reliably heavy morning dew. Spread Mark's Choice Lawn soil (item #5053-686) about 2 cm thick before broadcasting Golfgreen grass seed over the area. Rake smooth, step on it to get the seed/soil in firm contact and water well and frequently. Stand back and marvel at how right this advice is and how smart you are.
6. Fertilize your Lawn with Golfgreen Fall Lawn Fertilizer. This is the most important application of the year as you prepare your lawn for the winter and encourage it to bounce back come spring.
Be sure to harvest your veggies and fruit as they become ripe, plant mums, kale and asters for additional fall colour and plant most anything as 'fall is for planting'.
|
|
|
|
|
University of Guelph Arboretum
Auxiliary Plant Sale
Saturday, September 8, 2012
9:00am to 2:00pm
Where: The Arboretum, R.J. Hilton Centre, 382 College Avenue East, Guelph, ON
This year, a large selection of unique plants is available, including rare natives, such as blue ash, pawpaw and dwarf chinquapin oak, as well as some outstanding exotics, like the goldenrain tree and Siberian spindle tree. As always, you'll also find a diverse selection of native wildflowers, ferns, grasses and high-quality ornamental perennials.
The Arboretum plant sale is known for its extremely affordable prices with people lining up from across the province for the chance to take home a unique plant. So, come early for the best selection! Check our website for a listing of the plants that will be available at the sale.
For further information
|
|
|
|
I feel sure that this will be the special day that we have planned. The weather is going to be perfect (that is half of it right there, isn't it?) and we have a cadre of wonderfully committed volunteers. Besides, you would be hard pressed to find anyone as well organised as this daughter. We all have our lists, mine is titled, 'Dad, Grounds'. 
There is a mixture of emotions that flow through me as we get closer to the celebration. On the one hand I am losing a wonderful daughter, on the other; she has been living with the groom for a couple of years so I guess I am not losing anything at all. I am gaining a son in law. In fact a few months ago his work brought them back to the city vs. the 1 � hour drive to their previous place. Now they are only 20 minutes from our home. Hey, thanks Martin, for bringing our daughter back!
Be prepared this fall. Buy a Mark's Choice leaf rake now before they sell out.
September 17 - Green Jobs Forum 
Order garlic bulbs now to ensure they arrive in time for fall planting. Schedule your Fall garlic planting to allow the bulbs at least 3 weeks in the ground before the ground freezes. This gives the bulbs a chance to send out roots but not enough time to send out top growth above the soil surface. 
It's harvest time and the veggie garden is a great source for fascinating surprises.
Every day in the month of September I will select a winner from my Facebook page to receive a signed copy of my book, Canadian Lawn & Garden Secrets.
Do you have a 'gardening' event you would like to promote? 
Preserving the bounty of Canada's many local harvests is the focus of a timely recipe contest, launched as part of the 75th Anniversary of Parks Canada PEI. 
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Carolinian woods of SW Ontario
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
