A Master Gardener's Journal

By Joe Daniels, Delaware County Master Gardener
Start a compost pile, as fall is an excellent time to do so. You can use lots of garden debris including leaves, perennial tops, non-flowering annuals, dried lawn clippings, shredded tree and shrub prunings. If you already have a compost pile, keep adding garden trimmings, maintain pile moisture, and turn the pile weekly for the best and fastest results. If finishing a batch of compost (after pile was hot, then cooled down and about 1/3 of the original volume), let the pile 'cure' and harvest in four weeks for use in the garden.

Sit down and plan any landscaping you intend to do in the fall. Decide what and where you want to plant.

Be careful of yellow jackets this month and take note of problematic areas around doors, garbage cans, and fruit trees. Removing nests can be dangerous, so unless they are an imminent danger, leave them alone.

Take cuttings of favorite houseplants to have extras for you and to give to friends.

Order bulbs for planting in the fall.

Divide irises and daylilies now.

Resow cool-weather crops such as radishes, lettuce, kale, carrots, turnips and beets. Plant transplants of broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage for a fall crop. Harvest onions when the tops yellow and dry.

Note that if temperatures are excessive (over 90), tomatoes, peppers, snap beans and many other vegetables may stop setting fruits.

If it has just rained heavily, wait for a few days of dry weather before harvesting watermelons and they will be sweeter. Heavy rains can reduce the sugars (sweetness) in watermelons.

Avoid or reduce blossom end rot in tomatoes by mulching the plants and keeping the soil moist.

Apply two inches of mulch to your vegetable garden to reduce soil temperature and watering needs.

Prune canes of summer fruiting raspberries. Remove those canes which produced fruit this season.

Increase the size of your strawberries for next year. The better the growing conditions in August and September, the better the berries will be next June. Make sure that strawberries receive at least an inch of water a week throughout this time period.

Allow herbs to self-sow by not removing the flowers. Harvest herbs just prior to flowering for best flavor.

Be careful if you fertilize your lawn this month, as you could increase disease problems. Seed a new lawn in late August to early September. Proper soil preparation is critical to the successful establishment of a new lawn, so take a soil test as a first step. Get a soil test one if you have not had one done in the last three years.

Begin to decrease the frequency of watering your lawn if you are not installing a new one, but water deeply each time. Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation.

Apply fertilizer lightly to keep your annuals flowering, but be sure to water the soil before applying it to avoid burning the roots.

Sow hollyhocks, poppies and larkspur for next spring's flowers.

Be on the look out for powdery mildew, as it can become a problem toward the end of August when the evenings become cooler. Reduce problems with powdery mildew by using prevention strategies. Select resistant varieties, space and prune, water early in the day and reduce nitrogen fertilizer.

Order peony roots for planting in September since they need to be in the ground about a month before the killing frost.

Prune summer-flowering plants that flower on new wood after the flowers fade.

Don't fertilize plants now; give them time to harden-off before winter.

Water plants deeply in August since this is when they set buds for next year's growth.

Hand remove bagworms and tent caterpillars.

Root cuttings of many woody plants including azaleas, hollies and hydrangeas.

Deadhead and fertilize roses before winter. Take late cuttings for additional rose plants by using a sharp knife and taking a 6-9" section. Remove the leaves on lower sections (none should be below the soil) and place so that only 2-3" are above ground. Water well and cover with an inverted glass jar. Place in bright, indirect light only.

Remember perennial gardens often take a bit of a rest during this month and maybe you should too...go away on vacation for awhile...but don't forget to ask a friend to look in on your garden for watering.

UPCOMING MASTER GARDENERS EVENTS

Registration required for all events. Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website for a registration form.

Hummingbirds deserve to be treated to their favorite plants. They’re hard working pollinators and insect eaters. And they are, after all, such a pleasure to watch. Just wait till you see a hummer hover in mid air or fly backwards! Be sure to listen for the “hum” from its wings.

Although there are sixteen species of hummingbirds in the U.S., the only one in our PA neck of the woods is the ruby-throated hummingbird. Our hummer is only three to four inches long and weighs less than two tenths of an ounce. The male has a vivid red throat, white belly, iridescent green back and a forked tail. The female lacks the red throat and has a blunt tail. Both have an ultra-long beak with a tongue to match, which is perfect for sipping nectar.

This tiny bird is truly unique. When in flight, a hummingbird’s heart beats 1200 times per minute. Their little wings beat 22 - 78 times per second. Hummers can fly about 25 to 30 miles per hour. What an awesome metabolism they must have to support that kind of activity! No wonder they’re always sipping sugary nectar.

I roll out the red carpet for the little guys every year. I entice them with scarlet red cardinal flower and black and blue salvia, but they also enjoy my hibiscus, azaleas and purple bee balm. Other plants that tickle their tongues are trumpet honeysuckle, wild columbine, bleeding heart, impatiens and scarlet sage.

Some people go to all the fuss of maintaining a special hummingbird feeder, but it’s not really necessary. Just plant their favorite flowers and let them help themselves. My cardinal flowers are planted right outside my kitchen window, so I have a front row seat when the hummers come for dinner.

If you’d like to make hummers deliriously happy, put out a water mister on a timer that turns on at a certain time of day. They’ll quickly learn what time to arrive for a bath.

Be on the lookout for PA hummingbirds in mid-April. They’ll grace your garden till September, when they begin their annual fall migration to Central America.

Need more information? Call our hortline at 610-690-2671 and ask for PSU’s PA Wildlife publication # 6, Attracting Hummingbirds. Or go to PSU Publications and Cornell Ornithology Lab.

Do you have a gardening question? In Delaware County, call our 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. Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website for a registration form.

I gave up on my veggie garden years ago because it was so labor intensive and time-consuming, but I never lost the longing for fresh-from-the back-yard veggies. Now I’m starting over with a new method.

I recently discovered Square Foot Gardening—a method of growing a large number of veggies in a small space. SFG is easy to do and requires very little maintenance. Sounds good to me!

SFG was developed in 1975 by Mel Bartholomew, a retired engineer from New Jersey who decided to take up gardening as a hobby. His hobby mushroomed into gardening workshops, a book, consulting work and eventually a PBS TV series. Mel retired again in 1987, but was tempted out of retirement in 1989 by another TV show on the Discovery Channel and the Learning Channel--not to mention schools in California and Utah who requested programs for children. In 2001, his SFG program went global. I think Mel's given up on retirement.

Here’s how SFG works: a raised bed six inches deep--framed in wood--is filled with a mixture of 1/3 peat, 1/3 coarse vermiculite and 1/3 compost. The peat and vermiculite never have to be added again. More compost is added each time an old crop is harvested to make room for a new crop in a square. And since you have a compost bin, you’re set. You do have a compost bin, don’t you?

The bed frame can be 4x4, 4x8, 3x3 or any other size that fits your space or need. The area is divided into one foot squares and planted with veggies. The number of plants per square foot depends on their size. For example, nine beets, one head of broccoli, four heads of lettuce, or sixteen carrots could be planted in one square foot.

No digging is needed to prepare the bed. There are no long rows to hoe. No fertilizer is needed. There are no weeds to pull. What could be easier? Because of its small size, SFG can even be done in the city.

I located my new veggie garden just outside my kitchen door for easy access. It’s also very close to a water source. Stay tuned--I’ll be posting pictures of my SFG in progress.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a veggie garden but are hesitating because you think it would be too much work and take too much time, consider SFG. Check it out at Square Foot Gardening.

Do you have a gardening question? In Delaware County, call our 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. Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website for a registration form.

First it was ticks carrying Lyme disease—now it’s mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus. You’ve probably heard that West Nile has made an appearance in Delaware County.

Female mosquitoes must have blood to lay eggs. When a West Nile virus-infected mosquito settles down for dinner on a host, it infects the bite-ee with the virus. WNV is most dangerous for people over age fifty and anyone who has a weakened immune system.

Mosquitoes used to be annoying—now they can be downright dangerous. As if we didn’t have enough reason to avoid these irritating insects--now we have to be extra vigilant to protect ourselves from being bitten.

How can you protect yourself? For starters, know the enemy! Mosquitoes are out and about at dusk, dawn, early evening and after a rain, so take extra precautions at these times. Temperature affects a mosquito’s level of activity. They are most active at 80 to 90 degrees, become lethargic at 60 degrees and are inactive at 50 degrees. Mosquitoes can’t handle winds in excess of ten miles per hour, so a fan on your patio could spoil their meal. Incandescent lights attract mosquitoes, so use fluorescent lights outdoors.

The best way to foil the bloodsuckers is to stop them from multiplying. Take the following steps to prevent mosquitoes from breeding on your property:

• Do not allow even one drop of stagnant water on your property. Dispose of ANYTHING outside that could hold water—saucers under flowerpots, used tires, tin cans, old buckets.

• Clean your gutters. Clogged gutters are a choice egg-laying environment for female
mosquitoes.

• Empty your birdbath and refill it with fresh water daily. (the birds will love you for it--and they deserve it, since they work hard eating mosquitoes)

• Use Mosquito Dunks in pond water, water gardens, gutters and ornamental pools. Mosquito Dunks contains BTi (Bacillus thuringienis israelensis), a natural bacteria that is safe for the environment.

• Alter the landscape of your property to eliminate standing water.

• Tell your neighbors! Mosquitoes can travel up to three miles in their quest for blood, so eliminating breeding areas is a cooperative effort.

Feel the need for a mosquito repellent? Penn State and the CDC recommend Deet. To find out how to properly and safely apply Deet, go to CDC Insect Repellant

Delaware County is working with our Penn State County Extension in Smedley Park to implement a mosquito control and surveillance program. For comprehensive information about West Nile virus, how to protect yourself and Delaware County’s program to control it, go to Delaware County West Nile Virus Program

Do you have a gardening question? In Delaware County, call our 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. Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website for a registration form.

Note from Marion: The following article is from Penn State LIVE, the University's official news source.

As Pennsylvania's dry season arrives, many gardeners fear that their lush landscape will wither under scorching heat. However, a gardening expert in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences says smart landscaping practices can both save water and ensure the garden's survival.

With dry weather conditions increasing across the country, Penn State Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners are promoting the use of xeriscaping, an innovative, low-water gardening system, throughout their communities to help deal with dry weather and promote water conservation.

"Master Gardeners are trying to encourage public awareness of alternative landscaping practices that have positive effects on the environment," said Robert Kessler, extension educator in horticulture in Franklin County. "They also are working on water recycling through use of rain barrels, which will hold water until it is needed in dry weather."

Trained by extension educators and faculty, master gardeners are community volunteers that cooperate with service agencies and community groups on gardening projects, while promoting environmentally friendly techniques.

Providing a sun-loving landscape ideal for dry climates, xeriscaping is a low-maintenance gardening technique that incorporates a wide variety of plants to create a lush landscape. "Xeriscaping creates a beautiful landscape with native plants that have low water requirements," Kessler said. "Most of these plants do not require irrigation in dry weather, making ideal additions for low-water areas."

Planning a water-conserving landscape begins with an evaluation of the site in terms of exposure to the elements, the shape of the space and the type of plants needed. Plants should be arranged into groups according to their water needs. This makes watering gentle on the environment and time-efficient, adding to its popularity among users.

"As more people have learned about xeriscaping and tried the plants, I think it has become more popular," said Kessler. "There also is a desire to implement alternative landscape practices because of the dry spells we have had in the last several years."

While xeriscaping provides substantial environmental benefits, this system may not please everyone. "Xeriscaping requires some initial work to get properly started," said Kessler. "Gardeners will have to learn about plants they have not used before, including how to care for them."

When choosing low-water plants for the landscape, Penn State Master Gardeners recommend planting a wide variety that includes:

-- Perennials, such as blanket flower, coreopsis, goldenrod hybrids, green lavender cotton, hardy pad cactus, hens and chicks, lamb's ear, lavender cotton, lilyturf, mondo grass, moss phlox, purple mullein, sea pink, snow in summer, stonecrop and yarrow;

-- Annuals, such as Immortelle, livingstone daisy, moss rose, spider flower, strawflower and treasure flower; and

-- Shrubs and trees, such as Amur cork tree, Amur maple, autumn elaeagnus, broom, cotoneaster, goldenrain tree, hardy orange, juniper and Siberian carpet.

Although low-water plants are both beautiful and plentiful, some people prefer more traditional landscaping to the look of xeriscaping, explained Kessler. "And if you live in a development with a homeowner association, they may not permit this technique."

Do you have a gardening question? In Delaware County, call our 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. Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website for a registration form.