Harnett County Center

CAUTION:The information and recommendations in this article are applicable to Harnett County, NC and may not apply in other areas.

GARDENING FUN CONTINUES IN FALL, 10/24/97

Just because the pumpkins are ripe and the weeds are slowing down doesn't mean it's time to put away the garden tools. As most die hard gardeners know, plants are a year round passion. Check out these tips to help your plants through winter, so that you will enjoy a more beautiful landscape next spring.

LAWN CARE

Lawns should be fertilized when they are actively growing. This is summertime for warm-season grasses such as bermuda and centipede. Fescue, however, thrives in the cool temperatures of fall. November is an ideal time to make a fall application to your fescue. Apply a turf grade fertilizer such as a 12-4-8. Divide 100 by the first number to find out how much fertilizer to apply per 1000 square feet (i.e. 100 divided by 12 is about 8 pounds of fertilizer).

WATERING

Do plants need water during the fall and winter? Of course! Plants need water even when they go dormant. Even though deciduous shrubs lose their leaves and centipede turns brown, their roots still need water to survive. So supplemental water may be needed during long dry periods.

Evergreens continue to lose water through their leaves during the winter, especially on sunny days with high winds. Mulch will hold water in the soil and help prevent them from drying out..

VEGETABLE GARDEN CLEANUP

Are you holding out for those last few tomatoes from the garden? After you have collected the final harvest, don't forget to clean up. Leftover plant debris should either be removed and added to the compost pile, or tilled into the soil. This will go a long way toward reducing pest problems next year.

Also be sure to note where each vegetable was planted, so you can rotate your crops next year.

PANSIES AND BULBS

It's not too late to plant pansies. Plant them 6 to 12 inches apart in a sunny location. Till the soil well, and fertilize with 2 pounds of 10-10-10 (or equivalent) per 100 square feet about a week after planting. Fertilize again in January and March to promote flowering. And as mentioned above, don't forget to water during any dry periods during the fall and winter.

This is also the time to plant spring flowering bulbs such as crocus, daffodils, and tulips. Select firm bulbs and keep cool until ready to plant.

Proper planting depth is critical for bulbs. Small bulbs which are about 1 inch in height should be planted 5 inches deep (measured from the base of the bulb). Larger bulbs (2 inches in height) should be planted at an 8 inch depth. Incorporate a slow release fertilizer into the bed at planting. A rate of 1 rounded tablespoon per square foot is recommended.

COMPOSTING

Many of us will soon be faced with a deluge of leaves. What an ideal time to build a compost bin! Designs can range from simple to elaborate. The critical factor is size. For the compost process to occur, your bin should measure at least four feet high and four feet wide.

My favorite is a length of wire fence formed into a circular bin. Three-bin models of treated wood or cinder block are also handy, as the compost can be easily turned from one bin to the other.

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