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Weekend Gardener Organizer, A Three Year Planner
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GARDEN HINTS

 

WESTERN PACIFIC NORTHWEST

USDA ZONES 8,9 

 

SEPTEMBER


  • Plant spring-blooming bulbs such as daffodils, tulips and crocus
  • Continue to prune faded annual and perennial flowers for more blooms
  • Plant cool-season vegetables: cabbage, kale, radish, spinach, leaf lettuce
  • Transplant trees and shrubs

HIGH DESERT PACIFIC NORTHWEST 

USDA ZONES 3 - 7

 

SEPTEMBER


  • Plant garlic in the vegetable garden
  • Divide perennial herbs and flowers when the weather cools
  • Prepare trees and shrubs for winter by reducing water
  • Weed and mulch plants before freezing weather



Extend Vegetable Harvest


Spring is the time we think about planting vegetables but what about August? You have time to plant cool-season vegetables before the first day of frost.


Think of fall as the reverse of spring. The first day of frost marks the end of fall growing season while the last day of frost marks the beginning of spring growing season.


Cool-season vegetables include fresh lettuce, crunchy hot radish and tasty crisp carrots.


As the warm-season vegetables finish, add a few cool-season vegetables to your vegetable garden. Plant them under or near existing vegetables in in newly cultivated rows.


Restore the soil nutrients by adding a light layer of compost, aged manure or 5-10-10 fertilizer.


Plant the seeds of beets, carrots, spinach, radish and leaf lettuce. Use transplants of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower the plant garlic bulbs.


Stagger planting the seeds and seedlings in two-week intervals and your supply of vegetables will be extended.


copyright 2010 Lavon H. La Fresnaye



   

 



 


 

  
Control Pesky Weeds

An old garden saying is "one year's seeding -- seven years weeding". How do you keep pesky weeds out of your flower garden?

Hand weeding, mulching and weeding regularly are very effective. You can keep weeds under control by using these easy methods.

  • Hand pull weeds or use a hoe for close weeding around plants.
  • Mulch the flower bed to keep weeds out. Use three-inch deep compost, sawdust, chopped leaves or shredded bark.
  • Set aside at least 10 minutes a day to pull weeds and to prevent seeds from becoming established.
  • Install a drip irrigation system to water individual plants and not the weed seeds hidden in the soil.
  • Use vigorous growing transplants in new gardens. Space the plants so when mature they will form a canopy to shade the ground. Weeds need sunlight.
  • Use chemical weed control as a last resort. Be sure to read the label because herbicides cannot be used around all flowers and vegetables.
copyright 2010 Lavon H. La Fresnaye