|
Fall Gardening Tips
1. Planting or Transplanting
- Plant trees, shrubs and perennials anytime after the weather cools.
- Remove summer-worn and faded annuals, and replace them with pansies or other more cold tolerant annuals.
- Plant fescue and rye grass seed after September 1st.
- It’s okay to transplant and/or divide some perennials and small shrubs after the weather cools.
- Plant fall bulbs after first frost which is usually around November 1st. But, for the best selection
of bulbs, purchase them earlier.
- Wait until large trees are fully dormant to transplant them.
- Repot houseplants as needed.
2. Fertilizing
- Lightly fertilize annuals, perennials, and patio pots.
- Fertilize trees starting at the end of September.
- Fertilize fescues and ryes starting around Labor Day.
- Do not feed Bermuda or Zoysia after September 15th.
- Fertilize houseplants with a slow-release fertilizer.
3. Pruning
- It is okay to lightly prune trees for shaping or removal of dead or diseased limbs.
- Do not prune spring-blooming plants like dogwoods or azaleas.
- Keep deadheading Crape Myrtles to keep them blooming.
- Lightly trim back and deadhead perennials as needed to encourage new blooms.
- Keep the holidays in mind. Hold off trimming your greens (boxwood, holly, magnolia, etc.) until
the time comes to decorate.
4. Weed Control
- Spot kill existing broadleaf and grassy weeds as needed with liquid herbicides
- Apply winter weed preventers as soon as possible to control henbit, chickweed and dandelion.
5. Pest Control
- Spray to control active insects like scale, lace bug, and spider mites as necessary.
- Watch for late hatchings of web worms and oak caterpillars and treat as necessary.
- Treat all tropical plants that you plan to bring inside with a foliar spray and a systemic soil treatment before bringing them inside.
|
