|
Preparing
the Garden for Winter
Rosie Lerner, Purdue Consumer Horticulture Specialist
 Many
of us gardeners have mixed feelings about this time of year: sad
to see another garden year draw to a close, but at the same time
relieved to get a break from the chores of weeding, watering, pruning
and more weeding. But before you hibernate, there are still a few
more chores to take care of outdoors.
Winter mulch isn't necessary
for all garden plants, but it can mean survival for some less hardy
plants. Winter mulch has a different purpose than summer mulch.
The main benefits of winter cover are to protect against wide temperature
fluctuations in the soil and to prevent extreme cold temperatures
from harming plants.
Soil tends to heave when
subjected to wide temperature changes, pushing plant roots up out
of the ground. Heaving is most harmful to relatively shallow-rooted
plants, such as strawberries and newly planted specimens of any
kind that have not yet had a chance to develop solid footing. Winter
mulch also prevents extreme cold damage to above-ground plant parts.
Full
Story, http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/preparingforwinter.html
Late Season
Tips on Lawn Maintenance
Zac Reicher, Purdue University Turfgrass Specialist
Though lawns take very
little work at this time of the year, there are a few things that
you should keep in mind to help insure the health of your lawn.
- Keep mowing well into
the fall, as long as the grass keeps growing or as long as tree
leaves keep falling on your lawn.
- Fertilize in November
after growth has slowed or stopped but while it is still green.
Use a quick-release form of nitrogen (I like urea) and apply 1.0-1.5
lbs N/1000 sq. ft.
- Rake off, or preferably,
mulch the tree leaves to prevent them from smothering the turf.
- Minimize or eliminate
traffic on the lawn after it has stopped growing because it cannot
heal itself during the winter. This is especially true on frosty
mornings while the grass is still green.
- Instead of piling
snow into one large pile at the end of the driveway or walk, try
to spread the snow more evenly on the lawn. This will help to
prevent snow mold.
More
Fall Lawn Tips, http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/tips/index.html
|
