October
2007 Garden Tips
Treat for Stink Bugs now before they come inside for winter hibernation.
Spray gardens immediately surrounding the house with Bonide
Eight. Spray around windows and doors with Bonide
Household Insect Killer.
This is an ideal time to lay sod for an instant lawn. At Primex,
we receive sod on Friday mornings while it is available from the
grower. Call 215-887-7500 for availability when looking to purchase
a large quantity.
Dry soils occur even in the autumn. Be certain to check plants
for adequate moisture. Newly planted trees and shrubs, shallow
rooted plants and container gardens should be the first on the
list to receive water.
Bring houseplants and tropical plants indoors before night temperatures
drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Check carefully for signs of
pests or disease. Repot plants and treat for insect infestation
with Schultz Garden Safe Houseplant & Garden Insect
Spray or Safer Insecticidal Soap. Add
Bonide Systemic Granules to your potting mix
for additional insect control.
Protect your bulbs from becoming a vole snack with VoleBloc
or PermaTill. These nontoxic soil additives
are made of natural slate. When used around plant roots and bulbs
the abrasive particles of these products create a physical barrier
that repels burrowing rodents preventing them from feasting on
underground plant parts.
Join us today for two free informative classes:
10
am PLANNING
& PLANTING TO IMPROVE YOUR PERENNIAL GARDEN taught
by Jo Fagan
2
pm PREPARING
THE POND FOR WINTER taught by Tom Horn.
Replace spent annuals in garden containers with colorful Fall
Magic Proven Winners. At Primex, we carry a great selection!
Continue to remove all weeds from the garden and landscape beds.
Timely removal will prevent weeds from going to seed and from
creating an even greater problem next year. An application of
Concern Weed Preventer Plus (Corn Gluten) will
help control late season weeds.
Continue to check outside plantings for pest and disease problems
during the warm days of early fall. Continue control methods while
both are still be active.
Now is the time to divide and transplant perennial clumps that
have outgrown their space. Any spring or summer blooming perennials
can be divided now. Make sure you prepare the area where they
are to be replanted by adding Espoma Bone Meal.
Spray plants with Liquid Fence or Messina
Wildlife Management Deer Stopper and use Easy
Gardener’s Deer Fencing to prevent damage from
deer and other animals.
After a killing frost, cut back hardy aquatic plants and move
to the deepest part of the pond.
Fall is the best time of year to plant and transplant most trees
and shrubs. Be sure to use Espoma Bio-
Tone to stimulate new root growth before the ground freezes.
Gradually reduce the feeding of pond fish with PondCare
Spring & Autumn Premium Pellets as water temperatures
go down. 5 to 10 minutes after feeding, remove all food that has
not been consumed.
Evaluate summer plantings of annuals and vegetables while they’re
still fresh in your mind. What worked well and what didn’t?
Remember, spring is just around the corner! Begin planning next
year’s gardens now.
Spring flowering bulbs arrived about one month ago. Purchase your
selection before quantities and varieties dwindle.
Remember, Fall is an excellent time for planting and we still
have a nice collection of perennials, trees and shrubs to gussy-up
your landscape.
Cut back spent flower heads and foliage from your perennials as
they start to die back for winter dormancy. Leave ornamental grasses
until early Spring. Their dried foliage will add an interesting
texture to your winter landscape.
If you planned properly, you may still be harvesting some late
season vegetables from your garden. As it gets colder, add more
mulch to root crops to insulate soil and extend your harvest even
further. Clean out all other plants as they are killed by the
first hard frost. Add seasoned compost to the garden to prepare
your planting bed for next spring.
Primex Reward Members Double Points Day!
Also, join us today for a free class and family fun:
10
am Bringing
Houseplants Inside for the Winter taught by Mia
Mengucci
2
pm Family
Pumpkin Painting lead by Meghan Hayes and Jen
Maahs
Start an herb garden on a sunny windowsill and enjoy freshly snipped
herbs all winter long. We continue to offer a variety of herbs
throughout the winter months; choose from many varieties of basil,
thyme, oregano, mint, parsley and more!
Continue adding grass clippings, fallen leaves, spent annuals
and vegetables that are not diseased to your compost. If you are
looking for a quick and convenient way to compost have a look
at the Tumbleweed Composter or Spinning
Composter. Both are self contained dark plastic units
that are rotated to accelerate the decomposition of composting
material. We also have a Maxi Bin compost bin.
Cut roses back to 3" in height. Rake up and destroy diseased
rose leaves and debris surrounding your plants. Mound 10"-12"
of pine bark mulch or shredded leaves around the crown of the
rose to protect from winter damage.
Have you heard? We now carry the new Tumbleweed Pet Poo
Converter. This environmentally safe system enlists composting
worms to remove odor and convert pet poo into worm castings and
nutrient rich liquid fertilizer.
After a hard frost, remove annuals, roots and all, and add to
your compost pile, but do not add any diseased plant material.
Use Espoma Bio-Excelerator to help break down
your compost pile.
Pick up a Safer Pantry Pest to keep grain moths
out of your pantry.
Make leaf cleanup easier by using the Garden Lawn Claw
by Mid West. Keep Leaf bags open as you fill with Lawson Products
Easy Bagger. If leaves are being recycled in
your own yard, transport them to the compost pile with the reusable
Fiskars Kangaroo, Garden Brand Lawn and Leaf Bag
or The Product Factory Inc. Lawn Bagg.
Use chicken wire to protect the bark of young trees and shrubs
from foraging rabbits and deer.
Pot-up paperwhites now to create a blooming Thanksgiving centerpiece.
Water all landscape plants well and mulch before the winter cold
sets in.
Happy Halloween!
