Invasive pests, heat, drought and dying trees; it seems like that is all I have been writing about this gardening season. It has not been the best year for our lawns and gardens, but our outdoor living rooms have still provided a source of solace and renewal in these turbulent times. So let’s look ahead to a better season next year and what we can do yet this fall to prepare and hopefully insure it.
Fortunately we have had adequate rain the last month or so, but not enough to totally remove us from drought conditions. Our rain deficit has lowered the ground water level, so we are going to have to continue to ensure that our trees, shrubs, perennials and lawns receive adequate moisture going into the winter months. Continue to water until the ground freezes. Your lawn requires 1-1½” of water per week, including rainfall–but remember that we are still under watering restrictions for lawns. (Resident addresses on the even side of the street can water on the even numbered days of the month and those on the odd side of the street on the odd days.)
Water is also critical for trees and shrubs as they prepare to enter dormancy. They require 2” of water per week, especially trees younger than five years. Water deeply. The feeder roots are in the top 6-9” of the soil and remember to water as far out from the tree as the canopy, since the roots grow that far out from the trunk. (You may be doing that when watering your lawn.) Again continue to water your trees and shrubs until the ground freezes, especially evergreens as they need plenty of moisture to retain their green needles through the winter.
Most of our lawns have emerged from dormancy with our recent rains. Ours actually needs mowing and I am happy to see that the parkway has greened up except for a few brown spots. If your lawn is still brown, it is quite possible that the grass plants did not survive the drought and your lawn will have to be reseeded. Generally August 15 to September 15 is the optimal time for seeding lawns, but that all depends on rainfall. Under our current conditions waiting until spring seems like the best option if you have a large area that needs reseeding. If you only have a few brown spots you could try dormant seeding. In late November or early December, scruff up the dead spots, throw down some seed and tap it down lightly. The idea is that the seed will germinate with the warm weather and rains in the spring. Other than that the best thing to do for your lawn is to focus on drought recovery. Do not aerate or dethatch this fall but keep your lawn hydrated.
It is not too late to do some fall planting. While most of our annuals have spent their useful lives and are ready to be pulled up, they can be replaced with some mums in pots to brighten up the fall landscape. This is also a great time to plant or transplant perennials as long as you are willing to keep them watered until they establish a strong and deep enough root system to get them through the winter months. Anise Hyssop with its purple spikey flowers and licorice aroma and Joe Pye Weed’s pink flower sprays can add to the fall garden, but it is a good time to plant any perennials, especially since they are usually on sale at garden centers this time of year. And this is the time to start planting spring bulbs. Daffodils, crocus, hyacinths and tulip bulbs can be planted now for early spring blooming. Garlic is also a bulb that you can plant now for harvesting next summer. If you decide to grow garlic be sure to buy your bulbs from a garlic producer or garden center. The garlic we buy in the grocery store is not the right kind for Minnesota winters.
If you have houseplants that have been spending the summer outside, you should start bringing them inside. Check them over for insects and weeds that might have grown in the container. In fact, this might be a good time to repot those houseplants to make sure you lose the insects and weed seeds that might have burrowed their way into the soil. There will be an adjustment period for house plants brought in from outdoors as they acclimate to different light, temperatures, humidity and wind. In fact don’t be surprised if they drop a few leaves as they try to figure out how many they actually need under these new growing conditions.
All in all, I am not ready to give up on my garden, not even in these trying seasons. I intend to spend as much time outdoors as I can, planning for a new season next spring before I have to close the door on this one.