Tips for Fall

Overwintering Tender Roses - such as hybrid teas: If you don't like the look of large styrofoam rose cones up against your house all winter this procedure works just as well, and should be done in late November. First cut the canes back to 2' in length, and tie them together with jute if they are widely spread. Be careful not to break them. Open up a newspaper sheet all the way, and use 3 pages thick. Fold them lengthwise, and staple together. Now do this again to form a second long sheet. Staple these two pieces together in a ring around the rose, making it as wide as necessary to accommodate all the canes. Use a layer of peat moss inside the ring first, then stuff the rest with shredded leaves. When it snows try to pile snow on top of them for extra insulation. In the spring, you can put the newspaper, shredded leaves, and peat in your compost pile. Pick up any old rose leaves from the previous year and throw them away to minimize blackspot.

Leaves on the Lawn - Do not put your leaves out to the curb so they end up in a landfill. It is a lot easier to mow your leaves into your lawn rather than picking them up. They are very good for your lawn as they are free fertilizer for next spring, they help condition the soil and help with the pH of the soil no matter what kind of leaves they are. Mow them so that they shred up into small pieces that fall down into the lawn. Your objective is to get sunlight to the lawn. Thick leaves on your grass block sunlight so the plants can't make food to store for next spring.

Weeds in Your Lawn - If you just can't stand to have your grass coexist with clover, dandelions and other broadleaf plants then fall is the best time to put weed killer on your lawn. The time is right when you realize that your lawn has slowed to half its growing rate, usually close to the first frost, and there is no rain predicted for about 24 hours. Always follow the directions on the product you are using and wear protective clothing. Avoid breathing the fumes. Be especially careful near waterways, such as creeks, ponds, lakes and rivers. In addition, sweep up any granules that fall on hard surfaces so they are not washed into the storm water system. Fall is the best time to apply weed killer for several reasons. First, weeds are actively transporting food to their roots at this time of year so the weed killer will be transported, too. Second, the grass will fill in spaces left by the dead weeds quickly in the spring before new weeds can sprout in their places. Most importantly, birds that search your lawn for insects to feed to their young in the spring and insects that search for nectar won't be harmed by a fall application.

Protecting Hydrangea Flower Buds - Try this on hydrangeas that bloom on last year's wood such as Hydrangea macrophylla. Tie 5 or 6 of the stalks together, then bend them carefully down to the ground and stake them there, then cover them with shredded leaves. Since they are then insulated and not whipping around in the wind, next year's flower buds are protected, and they are much more likely to bloom. It's worth a try!