Is It Too Early to Plant Spring Bulbs?
If you’ve noticed tulip, daffodil, and allium bulbs for sale, now is the perfect time to buy them. Hardy bulbs like tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinths, snowdrops, alliums, crocuses, and scillas should be inspected carefully before purchase to ensure they are free of disease or damage. The bulbs should be firm with crisp, papery skins. Store them in a dry place, away from direct sunlight, until you’re ready to plant.
In Minnesota, the ideal time to plant these bulbs is from mid-September to mid-October, though planting a bit earlier is also fine. The key is to give the bulbs enough time to develop roots before the ground freezes. Tulips are an exception; they can be planted as late as the soil remains workable. For instance, some gardeners have successfully planted tulip bulbs even after a light snowfall and still saw blooms in the spring.
To protect your bulbs from squirrels, place a layer of chicken wire over them after planting. Additionally, once the ground freezes, apply mulch to help insulate the bulbs during the winter.
Can Mosquito Repellent Harm Plants?
Yes, mosquito repellents containing DEET can harm plants. If you frequently spray yourself with DEET near plants, you might notice damage, such as the death of a nearby plant like your trumpet vine. This happens because DEET burns plant tissue. This is sometimes observed on golf courses, where dead grass can appear where someone sprayed repellent. To avoid damaging plants, apply mosquito repellent on a hard surface, like a driveway, away from your garden.
What’s Wrong with My Pagoda Dogwood?
If the bark on a branch of your pagoda dogwood has turned bright yellow and has small orange bumps, your tree likely has golden canker, a common disease in pagoda dogwoods. Golden canker usually appears on branch tips and can spread to larger branches and the main stem. Infected branches often turn bright yellow to orange and eventually die. If the canker girdles the branch during the summer, the leaves will wilt, die, and remain attached to the branch. However, golden canker does not kill the tree’s roots.
To manage golden canker, prune the affected branches. Make the cut just above a healthy bud, at least two buds below the discolored bark. The cut should be close to the bud, within about 1 centimeter, without damaging it. If possible, avoid cutting the branch back to the main stem. The best time to prune infected branches is when the tree is dormant and the temperature is below 32 degrees, as this reduces the number of spores produced during the growing season. Be sure to sterilize your pruning shears with Lysol or isopropyl alcohol (hand sanitizer) between cuts. Dispose of the infected branches by burning or burying them to prevent the spread of the disease.
September Gardening Tips
Planting Trees and Shrubs: Fall is an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs. Smaller, younger plants are easier to handle and establish better, plus they are more affordable. After planting, mulch the roots with 3-4 inches of wood chips, keeping the mulch an inch or two away from the trunk to avoid “mulch volcanoes.” Water the plants weekly, unless there’s enough rainfall, until the ground freezes (usually around Thanksgiving or later).
Controlling Broadleaf Weeds: September is the best time to manage broadleaf weeds like dandelions, plantain, and creeping Charlie in your lawn. These cool-season plants are actively growing in the fall. You can dig or pull individual weeds, or spot spray them with a broadleaf herbicide containing 2,4-D. Apply the herbicide when temperatures are between 60-80 degrees, and ensure the grass is actively growing and not drought-stressed, as chemicals can damage drought-stressed turf.
Starting a Lawn from Seed: Late summer or early fall is ideal for starting a lawn from seed. Spread the seed at half the recommended rate in perpendicular directions for even coverage. Lightly rake the soil so that about 10-15% of the seed remains visible. Water lightly and frequently, up to three or four times per day, but reduce watering if it rains. Once the seeds germinate, gradually decrease watering as the roots grow deeper into the soil.
Fertilizing Your Lawn: Apply fertilizer to your lawn in early to mid-September. This encourages increased root growth, earlier green-up in the spring, and a thicker, healthier lawn.
Preparing Your Lawn for Winter: As temperatures cool, begin lowering the blade on your lawn mower. Continue mowing until the grass stops growing, typically by the end of October. By the final mow, your grass should be about 2-2 ½ inches tall. Shorter grass helps minimize winter diseases and discourages vole activity.
Dethatching and Aerating: Dethatch your lawn every few years in September. If you didn’t aerate in the spring, now is also a good time to do it.
Harvesting Fruit and Vegetables: If you grow your own apples, harvest them when they easily twist off the branch without breaking it. Plums should be picked when fully ripe for the best flavor. Grapes can be harvested as they mature by tasting them regularly to determine when they’ve lost their tartness. Harvest eggplants when they are 6 to 8 inches long and glossy, using a knife or pruner to avoid damaging the plant.
Curing and Storing Winter Squash and Pumpkins: After harvesting winter squash and pumpkins, cure them by placing them in a warm room for 10 days to toughen their skin. After curing, store them at 50-55 degrees to keep them for several months.
Dealing with Asian Lady Beetles: While Asian lady beetles are beneficial for controlling aphids, they can become a nuisance in the fall as they gather on the sunny sides of houses. If they enter your home, simply vacuum them up and dispose of them in the trash. Avoid smashing them, as they can leave stains.
Bringing Houseplants Indoors: Before bringing houseplants back inside for the winter, check them for insects, spider mites, eggs, or webbing. Clean the pots and wash saucers, and remove any plant debris from the soil surface. You may also want to re-pot your plants with fresh, sterile potting soil to avoid introducing pests into your home.
Moving Amaryllis and Citrus Plants Indoors: Move amaryllis indoors before the first frost, either storing the bulb in a cool, dark place or continuing to grow it in its pot indoors. Citrus plants like lemons, oranges, or kumquats should also be moved indoors for the winter. Isolate them for several weeks to check for insects, and grow them in a sunny spot as they need some direct sunlight each day. Keep the leaves clean by wiping them with a soft, damp cloth.