August
Begins the Season For Garden Makeovers
The time period from late August through early November is
the ideal time for garden do-overs. Flaws that
revealed themselves during spring and summer can be corrected, out of control
perennials tamed with digging, dividing and pruning, and new trees, shrubs,
perennial plants and bulbs can be established before the soil turns too cold
for any growth. Best of all, inclement
weather is less likely to cause planting delays. With a little planning and some savvy
shopping, the fall garden makeover can be both easy and economical.
Wage
War on Weeds
Summer is the time for every weed that has taken root in
the garden to come to maturity, so it is also an excellent time to eliminate all
of them. In order to prepare a new planting bed or revive and old one, weeds
and errant grass should be tackled with a combination of pre- and post-emergent
herbicides. The most common post-emergents are the glyphosphate-based
liquids. These are nonselective, and
quickly kill all vegetation that is treated. Pre-emergents
are another matter. Dry pre-emergents, such as Preen®
or corn gluten meal, need to be broadcast after plants or bulbs are installed.
Liquid pre-emergents, such as Gallery®, can be mixed
with the liquid post-emergent and applied simultaneously. The purpose of
applying pre-emergents is to keep the seeds of pesky
grasses and weeds from sprouting in your newly-tilled soil. One of the most
pernicious weeds, henbit, germinates in late September and by April it will
take over any bed. Most pre-emergents are viable for three to four months, so your bed
should stay weed free until the ground freezes.
Shop
For Plants On
During late summer, garden centers and mail order houses
want to unload excess inventory, so this is the time to pick up good plants at
great prices. Potted plants may be
overgrown and perennial flowers scraggly, but judicious deadheading and pruning
prior to planting will cure a host of aesthetic problems. Avoid those plants that appear to have insect
damage or are diseased. If the plant's
roots are tightly bound in the pot, be sure to tease the roots apart and spread
them out in the planting hole. This keeps the roots from girdling the plant and
ensures a solid anchor.
Another source of bargain plant material is the farmer's
market. Many growers sell divisions or seedling perennial plants from their
ornamental gardens. These probably won't
be the newest red-hot varieties, but farmers markets can be an excellent source
for bulk lots of generic perennials such as hostas,
daylilies, iris, rudbeckia and common herbs such as
sage or thyme.
Finally, plant societies often have fundraising sales
during this time of year. Shoppers can
find named varieties and interesting and exotic hybrids at these sales, prices
are always well below retail, the plants for sale have been grown locally so
are already acclimated to area soil and climate, and society members are happy
to answer questions regarding care and maintenance.
Watch
the Water
The biggest challenge involved in fall makeovers is to
maintain adequate moisture levels. Spring plantings have the advantages of
cooler temperatures and more frequent rains; late summer and early fall tend to
be hot and dry. Water in the plants at
the time they are installed, mulch the bed well, and provide one inch of water
weekly until the first heavy frost. This
will allow the plants to establish a healthy root system before the ground
freezes.
Change
The Diet
Finally, fall plantings have different fertilization
demands than do spring installations. Avoid using fertilizers with high
nitrogen levels; "winterizers" or
"root booster" fertilizers are a better choice. High nitrogen
fertilizers stimulate soft tissue growth in plants, and this tissue is easily
killed by frost. Perennial trees and
shrubs that flower on old wood can be treated with a high phosphorus fertilizer
so that flower buds will form and be ready to bloom next spring and summer.
With a few exceptions, plants that are installed in the
spring can be installed successfully in the fall. Take advantage of this time
for a second chance to create a first-class garden.
