A Master Gardener's Journal

Could it be that the last few days of summer are upon us? They say time flies when you're having fun. (Do you think many school-age children feel that way?) Here are some things you can tend to for the next few weeks. Keeping up with maintenance will allow you to continue to enjoy the garden until the weather turns frosty.

Seasonal Chores
Enrich garden beds with compost or peat moss. Don't forget to compost both fallen leaves and grass clippings as well as kitchen scraps. Learn how to compost--it’s the ultimate in recycling.

Collect soil samples now for testing so you can correct pH imbalances. PSU test kits cost $9 and are available at our Smedley Park County Extension office.

Fall is harvest time, including harvesting of choice seed from favorite and top-performing non-hybrid wildflowers, garden flowers, herbs and vegetables.

Many large garden spiders will be seen at this time. Most are beneficial and not poisonous. To reduce spiders in the home for winter, seal up cracks and spaces at the foundation and remove debris nearby.

Apply touch-up mulch if needed.

Generally no more fertilizer should be applied to plants.

September is often a dry month; water as needed.

Keep up weeding, deadheading, and pest patrol.

Vegetables
Seed cold-hardy vegetables now, including peas, lettuce, green onion sets, radishes, and spinach. Plant garlic now.

Continue to harvest vegetables at their peak. Ripe and overripe vegetables can be magnets for rodents and other pests. Have too much zucchini? Donate your excess to a local food bank!

Harvest garlic and onions when the tops have dried up. Pull up the whole plant (top and all), let it dry, and then braid garlic or onions together for winter storage and an attractive decoration. Onions with thick necks do not store well and should be used first.

Perennials, Biennials and Annuals:
Plant perennials, as many do best if planted in the fall. Need perennials? Come to our Master Gardeners Fall Fest Plant Sale. (We also have trees, shrubs, cacti and houseplants)

Start perennials from seed this month. Allow seeds of delphinium and hollyhock to self-sow.

Collect wildflower seed from native plants in your garden.

Divide and plant daylilies, iris, peonies and phlox. Eliminate weak or diseased plants

Harvest cut flowers for drying--baby's breath, celosia, statice, and strawflower. Hang plants upside down in a dry and well-ventilated area.

Bulbs
Early September is the time to plant irises. Add organic matter and fertilizer to the soil prior to planting. Remove dead leaves and trim fans to about 4 inches tall. Plant near the surface (top of rhizomes just visible), about 12-18 inches apart. Water often for a few weeks.

When the weather cools, begin planting spring-flowering bulbs. (crocus,daffodils, tulips,etc.). If this September is still warm, wait until October. Discard any bulbs that are rotting or infested.
As a general rule, plant bulbs at a depth of 2 1/2 times the bulb's width.

Dig up any tender bulbs (summer flowering, e.g., gladioli, dahlias, and tuberous begonias) and store them in a dark, well-ventilated area. This is best done before the temperature drops below 50 degrees or no later than when a slight frost has been observed on the leaves.

Note from Marion: Joe is right about compost. My plants love it! And I feel good about recycling all those kitchen scraps and garden clippings instead of sending them to a landfill. If you’d like to learn how to compost (and receive a FREE compost bin), register for our Fall Fest composting workshop.

Do you have a gardening question? Call our Delaware County Master Gardeners hortline at 610-690-2671 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM-12 NOON.

UPCOMING MASTER GARDENERS EVENTS

Registration required for all events (except plant sale). Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website

Even though it’s still officially summer, I’m thinking about leaf clean-up. It’s a gargantuan job on my little acre. But I don’t send even one leaf to a landfill--I use them all for mulch and compost. In fact, I have a few truckloads of shredded leaves delivered to my property so I won’t run out of leaf mulch next summer.

Speaking of compost, are you doing it yet? Ok, I know what you’re thinking. It’s one of the first questions people ask—does it smell bad? No, it doesn’t smell at all if you do it right.

All organic matter decomposes. Composting speeds this natural process by providing an ideal environment for all the microorganisms, worms and nematodes that work so hard to make a miracle product for your garden. The result is dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling stuff that looks like fertile soil.

Trust me on this. Composting is the best! It’s easy. It’s free. And you can do it year-round. I add kitchen scraps to my bin all winter, along with shredded leaves that I've conveniently kept in bags. In spring, I harvest what’s ready for my garden. And my plants love me for it.

Why do I rave about compost? Compost is the ultimate soil conditioner. It improves all types of soil—sand, clay and loam. Water penetrates more easily and is retained longer in composted soil. That means your plants will do better during dry spells. And wait till you see how easy it is to dig in composted soil! Planting will be a breeze.

What’s not to like about compost? It protects plants from diseases and insect pests, acts as a slow-release fertilizer, enhances the soil’s ability to retain water and oxygen and can even be used as a mulch. Just one generous application is like adding lush topsoil that would have taken nature a century to create. That’s why it’s called “black gold.” It’s that valuable.

There’s a composting method to suit everyone. Each method has its own merits. Your compost bin can be any size, depending on your needs. And it can be anything from a black trash bag to a fancy tumbler or even a pile in your back yard.

Want to learn how to compost? Sign up for our September 29 Master Gardeners Fall Fest Composting Workshop. You’ll even receive a free compost bin like the one that’s sitting outside my kitchen door.

Do you have a gardening question? Call our Delaware County Master Gardeners hortline at 610-690-2671 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM-12 NOON.

UPCOMING MASTER GARDENERS EVENTS

Registration required for all events (except plant sale). Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website

Karen McLoughlin, Delaware County Master Gardener, gave us a fascinating look into the world of gourds at our Second Saturdays workshop this month. Karen’s power point presentation included examples of beautiful gourd art, types of gourds, pictures of her gourd garden, and instructions on how to grow, dry and prepare ornamental and hardshell gourds for use as an art form.

After the presentation, we were treated to a display of some of Karen’s gourd creations. We learned that gourds come in all sizes, shapes, patterns and colors. Each gourd has unique scars and blemishes that enhance its natural beauty.

Each participant had the opportunity to select a dried gourd and prepare it for decorating. After the gourds were cleaned and scraped, the creative fun began.

We lined up at the work table to drill holes for birdhouse entrances and hanging hooks. After the holes were drilled, we shook out the seeds and fibrous insides. Next was the toughest decision—how to decorate our gourds.

Dried gourds can be painted with water colors, acrylics and oils or stained with inks, dyes and even shoe polish. They can also be carved, filigreed and embellished with interesting designs by using woodburning tools, pen-shaped electric drills and clay sculpting tools.

Talk about a creative activity! Gourds can become birdhouses, Christmas tree ornaments, wall hangings, spoons, bowls, decorative containers and whatever else develops when your imagination runs wild.

Karen said gourds were America’s first art form. That statement intrigued me, so I did a little online research. I discovered that decorating gourds was an ancient tradition in Africa, Asia and Central and South America as well as among native American Indians. Gourd art is still flourishing worldwide and in America, especially in the south and southwest. I was surprised to read that there are juried shows for gourd art.

I’m so glad I attended Karen’s workshop. I didn’t know so many beautiful items could be made from gourds. Thanks, Karen, for this exciting look at the world of gourds.

If you’d like to learn about gourd art, go to American Gourd Society.

For other upcoming Master Gardener workshops on a variety of topics, check out our Second Saturday schedule. Workshops are held each month at our Smedley Park Environmental Center in Springfield, PA.

Do you have a gardening question? Call our Delaware County Master Gardeners hortline at 610-690-2671 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM-12 NOON.

UPCOMING MASTER GARDENERS EVENTS

Registration required for all events (except plant sale). Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website

Summer may be winding down, but the gardening season is far from over. The annual Master Gardeners Fall Fest on Saturday, Sept. 29 will showcase a list of plant experts, workshops, gardening advice, tours and a plant sale at Smedley Park in Springfield from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The programs will run rain or shine.

Advance registration of $25 is required for the four talks and box lunch, but walk-ins are welcome for the day-long “dirt cheap” plant sale, says Fall Fest organizer Alyce Zellers. . “Come early for the best choices.” Cacti and succulents, herbs, houseplants, native plants, perennials, shrubs and small trees will be available.

A Frugal Gardener table also will offer gently used gardening tools, books and decorations. “You can get a good thing for a good price,” Zellers promises.

Jeff Jabco of Scott Arboretum will cover environmentally friendly technologies for gardens including rain gardens, green roofs, porous paving, capturing and reusing storm water for irrigation, bio-swales and the use of recycled materials in “Going Green: Sustainability in Gardens and Landscape Design.”

Speaker Jim Bobb will zoom in with a bee’s-eye view of the garden in “Sex in the Garden.” The owner of Worchester Honey Farm and president of the Pennsylvania State Beekeeper Association will share everything he knows about pollination in a presentation on a bee’s version of dating, making babies and pollen and nectar payments for sex.

Jerry Nolte, Chester County Master Gardener, will share her passion for “Heaths and Heathers,” hardy plants that take little maintenance if planted in the right spot.

The concluding talk will teach how to “Optimize Your Sweat Equity” by following tips and tricks every gardener should know, thereby making time spent outside more rewarding.

The Fall Fest will conclude with two optional workshops. Participants can dig in and make their own hypertufa troughs to take home. Advance registration at $15 is required and enrollment is limited. Gardeners interested in composting, the creation of rich, organic soil from yard waste, can sign up to receive a large composting bin and instructions. Cost for the composting workshop is $5 for Fall Fest registrants and $10 for walk-ins.

For registration information on the Master Gardener Fall Fest, call the Delaware County Cooperative Extension Office at 610-680-2655 or download a registration form

Note from Marion: You won’t want to miss our Fest. It’s always an enjoyable event. Sign up for the workshops now while there’s still space.

Do you have a gardening question? Call our Delaware County Master Gardeners hortline at 610-690-2671 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM-12 NOON.

UPCOMING MASTER GARDENERS EVENTS

Registration required for all events (except plant sale). Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website

Lawn Care:

Continue to mow the lawn until growth ceases for the year. As the season cools, some grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass) will actually grow faster, and more frequent mowing will be needed. If your lawn has already gone dormant due to drought, discontinue mowing. Unless you have a newly planted lawn, your lawn will need less water in the fall.

Fertilize your lawn in mid to late September to give it an early start for next spring.

Fall is an ideal time to establish a new lawn of the cool season grasses. This is also the best time to reseed bare spots in the lawn. Seed and water thoroughly, but infrequently (after grass has germinated) to encourage deep roots.

Keep weeds from forming seeds, remove seed heads promptly. Control winter annual or perennial weeds in the lawn by applying an appropriate herbicide if weeds are extensive.

Rose Care:

Do not deadhead or fertilize roses after Sept. 1st.

Prune only diseased or damaged canes. Other pruning should be done in the spring. Fall pruning increases the chance of winter drying and damage.

Order your roses for fall planting.

Herbs

Keep herbs producing new foliage by removing flowers and seedpods from basil, mint, parsley, sage and thyme.

Start potting up some chives, parsley, and other perennials for a kitchen winter garden.
Preserve herbs for winter use by freezing or drying them.

Tree and Shrub Maintenance

Prior to leaves dropping, prune all dead wood.

For an energy efficient landscape: place evergreens on the north and northwest sides to block winter winds. To block early morning sun, plant deciduous trees on the east, to block late afternoon sun, plant on the west. Do not plant on the south side: trees here would block cooling summer breezes.

When night temperatures are in the 40s and days are no longer warm, transplant trees and shrubs. Do not add fertilizer to the planting hole. It will stimulate late growth that could be damaged in winter.

If you are moving plants from one area of your garden to another, be certain that they are well watered for at least several weeks prior to moving. Plants that are drought stressed do not transplant well.

Now is a good time to move needle-leaved evergreens if they need to be moved to another area. Be sure to have a large enough rootball on each plant to sustain it.

Begin to decrease supplemental watering this month to allow woody plants time to prepare for winter. If it is a dry fall, you will need to water monthly through November.

Houseplant Maintenance

Clean up plants and prepare to bring them back indoors, before night temperatures fall below 55 degrees for the winter. Remove dead leaves and stems, as well as any soil on the outside of the pot. Check for insects prior to bringing plants back in.

Be sure to wash windows this fall so that houseplants placed nearby can have maximum sunlight over winter

Some herbs such as parsley or sage, can be dug up, potted, and used as houseplants.

Stop weekly feedings of Christmas cactus in September for re-bloom during the Christmas holidays. In October and November provide darkness for 15 hours a night in a cool place (50-60 degrees). Water plants about twice a month. Tip: Some have had success with leaving Christmas cactus outdoors for a few cool nights (around 40-50 degrees). The chill sets the buds, but they usually bloom before Christmas if you try this approach.

Do you have a gardening question? Call our Delaware County Master Gardeners hortline at 610-690-2671 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM-12 NOON.

UPCOMING MASTER GARDENERS EVENTS

Registration required for all events (except plant sale). Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website

Winter greens and holiday decorations are most likely the last thing on your mind as you enjoy these last fleeting weeks of summer. Yet now really is the time to sign up for the Master Gardeners’ holiday wreath-making workshop, to be held December 8, 2007, from 10am to 12 noon. If the last two years are any indication, this annual December workshop will fill up in record time.

Participants need only arrive at the Environmental Center at Smedley Park with a pair of rubber gloves, pruners and their creative flair to create a one-of-a-kind holiday wreath using fresh greens. All other materials are provided, including a wide variety of freshly-cut greens, various ribbons, pine cones and assorted decorative items collected from outdoors and donated by generous Master Gardeners.

The cost of the workshop is $15. Once registered, you can look forward to breathing in the delicious scent of balsam, fir and pine, which fill the workshop on wreath-making day. Warm cider, holiday music and lots of help from Master Gardener volunteers are also available.

Every year, participants marvel at the gorgeous holiday wreaths they’re able to create, frequently comparing their works of art to those they see for sale for $100 and more in catalogs and floral shops.

So, come and share the holiday spirit and create your own living masterpiece on December 8. Registration is limited, so take time out now, between the pleasures of sighting butterflies and yellow finches and gathering zinnia and dahlia blooms to register for one of this gardener’s favorite winter workshops.

Do you have a gardening question? Call our Delaware County Master Gardeners hortline at 610-690-2671 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM-12 NOON.

UPCOMING MASTER GARDENERS EVENTS

Registration required for all events (except plant sale). Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website

Garlic mustard is a very nasty invasive plant that stinks like garlic when crushed. I call it nasty because this biennial invasive destroys our native plants. Many native wildflowers that bloom in the spring (like wild ginger, bloodroot, Dutchman's breeches, hepatica, toothwort, and trillium) are in danger when garlic mustard moves into the neighborhood.

Once garlic mustard gets a roothold in your yard, you can kiss native plants goodbye. It kills natives by aggressively monopolizing light, moisture, nutrients and soil. To make matters worse, wildlife species that depend on native plants for pollen, nectar, fruits, seeds and roots are deprived of essential food sources when garlic mustard is on the rampage.

Garlic mustard first appears as an apparently harmless rosette of green heart-shaped leaves close to the ground. The rosettes remain green through the winter, making them easy to spot when you make weed rounds. (you do make weed rounds, don’t you?) Hand pull those little devils as soon as you see them. And get the entire root, because new plants can grow from root fragments.

If you don’t pull up the rosettes this winter, next spring you’ll find them growing two to three feet tall with clusters of small white flowers. In May, slender seed pods develop which become shiny black when mature. Don’t miss your second chance--get those pods before they mature and bag them so the seeds can’t escape and wreak more havoc. Here’s the really bad news—just one plant can produce thousands of seeds, which can remain viable for five years. What a nightmare.

By late June, when most of the garlic mustard plants have died, you’ll see their erect stalks containing dry, pale brown seedpods getting ready to blast your yard with new plants. Take this last opportunity to get rid of them by hand-pulling the plants. Don’t let them go to seed!
For larger infestations of garlic mustard, or when hand-pulling is not practical, cut flowering stems at ground level to prevent seed production. If you cut the stems higher, they’ll just grow back and flower again. And since the plant is a biennial, it won’t come back next year (hopefully).

For very heavy infestations, some people use a systemic herbicide (that kills EVERYTHING it’s sprayed on, including natives). I’d rather pull the plants.

When eliminating garlic mustard from your property, make sure you have the right plant. Toothwort, sweet cicely and early saxifrage may be mistaken for garlic mustard. The garlic mustard flower has four petals in the shape of a cross and its coarsely toothed leaves smell like garlic when crushed. None of the look-alikes have that garlic smell.

Get to know garlic mustard—and then eliminate it from your property. And tell your neighbors about it so they can be on guard for this interloper.

Do you have a gardening question? Call our Delaware County Master Gardeners hortline at 610-690-2671 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM-12 NOON.

UPCOMING MASTER GARDENERS EVENTS

Registration required for all events (except plant sale). Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website