Test soil for new beds, Retest soil in poorly performing areas or those that haven’t been tested in the last 3-5 years. Stop pinching back helenium, chrysanthemums and asters. Prune summer-flowering shrubs about two weeks after flowering. Allow peony greens to grow until fall and then cut back. In particular, keep irises and day lilies from forming seedpods. Deadhead flowers and trim damaged, diseased, and dead foliage to keep beds tidy and encourage reblooming. Weed often and cut off flowers of any weeds you don’t get pulled out. Shop nurseries for end-of-season bargains or new fall arrivals. Order asparagus, rhubarb, bulbs, flower and fruit plants, and shrubs for fall planting. Take cuttings of those annuals that you want to winter over. Many provide food for the birds and small mammals during the fall and winter. Seasonal: Stake tall flowers and provide supports for vining plants.Īllow the final flush of flowers to go to seed. Gather them together to make watering easier. Start thinking about adding to your fall display, either in the garden or as part of a container display. Asters and mums are starting to appear on the market. Sow seeds that require a cold period for germination. Plant but protect from heat: late-season cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, peas, and broccoli for late summer or early fall harvest. Planting: Start sowing seeds in flats for fall flowers like pansies and snapdragons or ornamental foliage plants like mustard, cabbage and kale. Send questions to Garden Keeper at or mail: Garden Keeper, The Morning Call, PO Box 1260, Allentown, PA 18105. Sue Kittek is a freelance garden columnist, writer, and lecturer. Our micronutrient sprayed tomatoes continue to outperform the unsprayed ones but things have become a bit complicated as some of Jack’s early varieties are fruiting which throws off the calculations for now, Are they growing slower because they are using the energy to fruit or are they slower because they aren’t sprayed? Obviously, a better test would be to spray one and not the other of two identical tomatoes, but I didn’t do the planting or the spraying so I can just observe and try to notice any difference. The hydrangeas that bloom on last year’s wood are also in full bloom, reminding me that in a week or so I should get out the pruners and do any shaping or pruning before next year’s flowers start to form. The monarda is peaking and drawing hummingbirds and plenty of insects into the garden. So a few minutes spent snipping off the spent flowers can result in a few more weeks of beautiful flowers. If you don’t, thousands of weed seeds can be released into your garden - creating an even more difficult weed problem In the future.ĭeadheading not only makes the garden look better, it also encourages many plants to keep blooming. If the weeds get ahead of you, make sure to cut off and remove the flowers before they set seed. A good haircut does wonders for those sad-looking petunias, for example. So, do what you can to keep the gardens weeded, the flowers deadheaded, and consider shearing back the annuals. Tidy the GardenĪs the hot days of summer are nearing, many plants start to look a little ratty. While the outdoor shows were wonderful, I am glad it is returning to the convention center, less walking and less weather dependent, and the early spring, when I need some beautiful gardens and wonderful scents. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) has announced that the 2023 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show will return to its indoor location at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, in early spring from March 4-12, 2023. While they may solve your lawn problem with Japanese beetle grubs, they can also destroy any other grub, good or bad, in the area. Always be aware of any chemical you use and its effect on non-targeted insects, or plants if using a nonspecific herbicide.Īnother example would be grub killers. Most foggers use a nonselective insecticide that will kill the mosquitoes but also a great number of harmless or even helpful insects that are natural predators or pollinators. I should have mentioned that while fogging itself is not damaging, the chemicals used can be. As with most topics, there are multiple solutions, some good, some better and others worse.
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