Greetings! 
My garden is getting tired.
The petunias are going brown, the moles are having their way with the back lawn, and the perennials are starting to brown and lose their leaves.
But the weather is so lovely I still want to be out there. There's still tons of produce coming to harvest and any weeding I do now will save me far more hours come spring.
Also--here's a novel idea--now that the garden has slowed down, I try to slow down, too. I have some very comfortable lawn furniture out there. Each day I resolve to go out there with a book or magazine, and each time, on my way to the chair, I see yet another weed, yet another plant that's dry, yet another green bean to be picked.
Apparently, until the snow is a few feet high, a gardener's work is never done.
Yours in persistent gardening,
Veronica Lorson Fowler
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Bulb Planting Time!
October is the month to buy and plant bulbs. Earlier and they'll grow too much and be damaged by winter; too late and they might not get well enough established.
The best bulb tip I can offer is to buy quality bulbs. The cheapies at the big box stores just don't cut it. They're usually undersized and often won't bloom well. I don't have anything against box stores, but this is a time to hit the local garden centers, like Earl May and the mom and pops. I figure I need to spend at least 50 to 60 cents apiece for the larger bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths.
For more bulb planting tips, click here.
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Spray So It Stays 
Hairspray is a handy fixative to keep dried plant material in place. I like to cut grass seed heads to put in vases in the house, so it's helpful to spray on those to prevent them from shattering.
It also works for helping to keep bittersweet berries from shattering, as well as millet heads, small dried flowers, and other similar dried plant material. Also, weirdly, it works great on cattails. Spray the big brown velvety seed heads to prevent them from splitting open and dispersing cottony seeds all over.
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Fall Cleanup 
Also, there's an old saying that "beautiful lawns are made in the fall." Do some basic lawn care now to assure gorgeous turf come spring.
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Monthly To-Do
 Plant spring-blooming bulbs. If you want, plant some in pots for forcing. Easy to do, fun, and very welcome come January and February!
Keep harvesting, as much as you can. Click here for our best harvest tips!
Pull out any annuals that are having significant problems with pests and diseases or are just looking ratty. They're not going to get any better.
Plant mums as desired. Hardy mums are more rugged looking and should be planted in the ground, where they'll come back each year. Florists' mums are perfect-looking, but last just one year. Either way, keep them well watered. if they wilt just once, they may not come back.
Right before a rain, fertilize cool season lawns, such as Kentucky bluegrass, ryes and fescues, to encourage good root growth. Also fertilize warm-season grasses, such as zoysia, also to prompt them to green up faster in spring. Click here for a month-by-month lawn care schedule for Iowa.
Look for garden items on clearance. A great way to save money! However, seeds kept for a year are not as likely to germinate well. And be careful about end of season plants. If they look tired, have spots, or problems, they're not bargains.
For our printable monthly to-do lists and handy garden references, click here. |
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Editor's Choice
Garden Events
Saturday, October 17
Halloween Fun
lowa Arboretum, Madrid
1:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. From 1:00-3:00, young children (and you!) are encouraged to p ut on a costume and enjoy treats, hayrides, hay maze and games at this family Halloween event. At 6:00, things get a little scarier, for older children and adults, with the "Trail to No Return" walk, the "Hayride to the Valley of Darkness," and a visit the "Haunted Classroom." Bring a flashlight, wear a costume and enjoy Halloween treats.
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Garden Quote
"Just before the death of flowers,
And before they are buried in snow,
There comes a festival season
When nature is all aglow."
-- Author Unknown
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