Tips From Master Gardeners

1) What to do in the Fall.
                    a. Clean up your flowerbeds. (There is controversy on this one)
                    b. Pull out the annuals.
                    c. Check for diseases.

2) Vegetable Gardens.
                    a. Plant a cover crop.   Rye or Buckwheat.
                    b. Pull up tomato plants especially those with blight.  
                    c. Change location of where you plant next year’s plants.

3) Test Soil.

4) Winter Interest.
                    a. Clean up in Fall because it is monumental in the Spring.  
                    b. Plants that reseed plentifully could overtake garden.
                    c. Mulching is good in the Fall for insulation.
                    d. Snow protects plants.

5) Protect Arborvitae with Plant Skyd to repel deer damage, or wrap in burlap 
    or chicken wire.

6) Mums.
                    a. Plant Early instead of leaving in pots.
                    b. Mulch.
                    c. Water well in the Spring for root growth.

7) Separate Iris’s in August, but still not too late in Sept.
                    a. Cut back foliage in a fan shape.
                    b. Air dry for a few days if in August. (September, plant right away)
                    c. Separate and throw away old rhizome.
                    d. When you plant them you should see the top of the rhizome.

8) Lee Valley Magazine and Garden Gate Magazine.
                    a. Brush for cleaning pots and shovels.
                    b. Root cutting tool.
                    c. Velcro plant ties.

9) Weed gardens now, do not wait until Spring.

10) House plants.
                    a. Give plants a good shower before bringing in doors.  
                        Use a mixture of soap and water to kill insects.

11) Milk Jug.
                    a. Cut bottom and top of Gallon Milk Jug to use as a protector for
                        spraying plants with round up.
                    b. To cover small plants when adding mulch.

12)  Planting bulbs and keeping out the critters.
                    a. Some suggest using red pepper.
                    b. Bond Medicated Powder.