Eco Gardeners

Fall is the time to plant spring blooming bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, crocus and hyacinths. By following these few simple tips, you can be a fall bulb-planting expert.

• Decide which varieties of spring blooming bulbs you desire for your garden. Choose high quality bulbs to ensure bulb freshness and excessive blooms. The Happy Gardener offers a beautiful selection of high-quality bulbs.

• When planting your bulbs, it is very important that you do so at the right time. The general consensus being that the optimal planting time is when the average night temperature is about 40 degrees. The most common mistake with planting bulbs in the fall is planting too early as this encourages fungus growth and disease. For bulbs to have the most spring vigor they generally need between 12-15 weeks of cold weather.

• It is important to know the correct planting depth. If you plant too close to the surface they risk freezing. Most bulbs should be planted about 6 inches below the surface, but it is important to do your research because smaller bulbs should be planted at lower depths such as 4 inches.

• Winter mulch is very important to the health of your bulbs. Not only does it provide nutrients to the soil, but also aides in thawing the ground. Your bulbs will give you better performance in the spring.

Bulb Fundraising Program: Do you know of an organization needing to raise funds? The Happy Gardener’s Fall Bulb Fundraising Program is our most popular! Contact us for more details.

The main reasons for dividing perennials are 1) to control the size of the plants, 2) to help rejuvenate them, and 3) to increase their number. Dividing and replanting keeps rapidly spreading perennials under control. Dividing will rejuvenate old plants, keeping them vigorous and blooming freely. Additionally, dividing perennials is an easy and inexpensive way to gain additional plants for your garden or to share with others.

WHEN TO DIVIDE:
In general, it is best to divide spring/summer blooming perennials in the fall, and fall bloomers in the spring. By dividing the plant when it is not flowering, all the plant’s energy can go to its root and leaf growth. Fall division should take place between early September to mid-to late October depending on where you are. Allow at least four to six weeks before the ground freezes for the plants to become established.

Most perennials should be divided every three to five years. Some perennials such as chrysanthemums and asters may need to be divided every one or two years as they can crowd themselves. Bleeding hearts and peonies may never need to be divided unless you want to increase your stock.

Signs that perennials need dividing: flowers are smaller than normal, the center of the clumps become hollow and dead, or when the bottom foliage is sparse and poor.

PREPARATION FOR DIVIDING:
Water plants to be divided thoroughly a day or two before you plan to divide them. Prepare the area that you plan to put your new divisions in before you lift the parent plant. Prune the stems and foliage to 6 inches from the ground in order to ease division.

LIFT THE PARENT PLANT:
Use a sharp pointed shovel or spading fork to dig down deep on all four sides of the plant, about 4 to 6 inches away from the plant. Pry underneath with your tool and lift the whole clump to be divided. If the plant is very large and heavy, you may need to cut it into several pieces in place with your shovel before lifting it.

SEPARATE THE PLANT:
Shake or hose off loose soil and remove dead leaves and stems. This will help loosen tangled root balls and make it easier to see what you are doing.

PLANT THE DIVISIONS:
Never allow new divisions to dry out. Keep a pail of water nearby to moisten divisions until they are planted. Trim all broken roots with a sharp knife or pruners before replanting. Plant the divided sections immediately in the garden or in containers. Firm the soil around the roots to eliminate air pockets and water well.

PROVIDE NUTRITION:
Feed your parent plants and divisions with an organic plant food designed to reduce transplant shock and help establish a healthy, strong root system such as THG’s SeaResults Micronutrient Solution.

Fall is here and it’s time to fertilize. Why now? Taking the time to fertilize in the fall will strengthen your plants’ and lawn’s roots, giving them a strong base on which to survive the winter and thrive next spring.

• The first thing to understand about fertilizer is the formula, which is represented by three numbers such as the common conventional 10:10:10. The first number represents nitrogen, which promotes lawn blade and foliage growth; the second number stands for phosphorus, which helps root growth; and the third for potassium, which promotes cell function and absorption of trace elements. With organic gardening it is important to understand that the NPK ratio should be 1/3 of conventional formulas.

• In my opinion, all trees and shrubs need fertilizer, because most of them are located in mulch beds that use up nitrogen as they decompose. In addition, every fall homeowners usually rake leaves off these beds, depriving plants of the nutrients that decomposing leaves would traditionally release. To compensate, I recommend applying a balanced, slow release soil conditioner containing micronutrients to the bed and cultivating lightly.

• I prefer fertilizing trees in late September and early October to promote root growth. These nutrients will still be in the soil come spring when plants start to grow. If you have a tree or shrub that does not flower well, a fall feeding will help promote spring/summer flower growth. However, if the plant is not located in the right spot, all the fertilizer in the world won’t make it flower.

• Overall, the basic goal of fall fertilizing and organic gardening for plants and lawns is to promote root growth. When you have strong roots, you have healthy plants with numerous flowers.

Fall Lawn Care Calendar: Want to know when to do what to your lawn? Click here for complete details.