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GARDEN TIPS FOR OCTOBER
BY
1.
DO MORE THAN RAKE YOUR LEAVES, RECYCLE!!!
Usually I try
to find the easiest way to do something. Taking care of leaves in the
fall is no exception, as I would rather watch Big Red football or
Volleyball. I use my mower and mulch them into my lawn or I put the bag
on and pick them up for the compost pile. My self-propelled mower is
much easier than a rake. My wife and I do rake the leaves from the lilac
hedge and other shrubs, and my wife rakes the leaves from her flower
garden. These we gather up for the compost pile. I may run my mower over
them or grind them in my small electric grinder so they decompose more
rapidly. Grass and leaves do not go to the landfill!!!
Mulching the
grass in the summer or the leaves in the fall, does not increase thatch.
Remember, thatch comes from overgrown roots caused by over fertilization
of your lawn, and mowing your grass too short. The best way to prevent
thatch and have a healthy lawn is (1) do not over fertilize, (2) do not
mow your grass short, and (3) core aerate at least once per year.
Also, chopping
up the leaves with your mower and putting them back into your lawn is
beneficial, according to a study done by
If you don’t
want to mulch your lawn, you can put the catcher on and bag the chopped
leaves. Chopped leaves can be used as mulch over your roses and other
plants, tilled into your garden, or added to your compost pile.
“Chopped” leaves break down faster in the compost pile and do not
mat when used around your rose bushes or other perennials. From the
mower bag directly to the compost pile or garden also saves on plastic
bags or paper bags. PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENT!!!
If you don’t
want to use your mower, the next alternative is to rake your leaves,
spread them out over the vegetable garden, and till them in, or put them
in the compost pile. Do not put un-chopped leaves on your roses or use
as mulch on other plants as they usually will mat down and therefore are
not as beneficial.
As a last
resort put the leaves in a paper bag and send them to your city compost
recycling. These leaves and grass clippings end up as good compost after
two years. In the spring and summer this good compost is usually
available free of charge or for a small price.
RECYCLE THOSE LEAVES!!!
2.
CHECK SOIL DRAINAGE BEFORE PLANTING SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS. Before planting spring-flowering bulbs in a new garden or in a new bed, check the soil drainage. If you have slow drainage, do not plant, especially bulbs, in this area without improving the drainage. Bulbs enjoy moisture but can not stand wet feet as they will rot.
To check the
drainage of your soil, dig a hole 12 inches wide and 12 inches long and
12 to 18 inches deep. Fill
the hole with water and let it drain dry.
Refill the hole with water.
If you have well drained soil the water will run out at the rate
of about 1 inch per hour. If
it runs out too fast, add organic matter to help hold the water. If it
runs out too slow add organic matter to help loosen the soil so it
drains better. If you have
added compost and it feels crumbly but the water drains slowly, you may
have a hard layer of clay (hard pan), or a rock, or some material left
over from construction, just under the top soil.
The only way to correct this is to dig deeper and break up that
hard pan that keeps the water from draining, or remove the rock or
construction debris. One cause of “Hard Pan” in a vegetable garden is
running a tiller at the same depth year, after year, after year. The
tines beat down on the soil and cause it to compact at that level.
3. ADJUSTING THE pH OF YOUR SOIL.
Most of the
soil in Southeast, South Central, and
There are a
number of plants that prefer acidic soil or a pH of 5.3 to 6.5. These
include Azalea, Rhododendron, Blueberries, Pin Oak trees, some River
Birch trees, Blue Hydrangeas, onions and radishes. Do not attempt to
grow Blueberries in Copyright 2012 |