PREPARING YOUR LANDSCAPE FOR WINTER

Forcing Bulbs Alliums

Daffodils Hyacinth

Early Tulips Midseason Tulips Late Tulips

Pasquesi Home and Gardens

At a time when so much is made to crumple up, throw away and forget, we’re thankful and proud to say our roots go deep. We’ve been a vital, growing part of Chicago's North Shore suburbs for over 40 years.

The owners and management at Pasquesi Home and Gardens have always focused on creating an exceptional shopping experience for their customers—and our friendly and informed staff backs up that mission. From our buyers who search the world for new products, to helpful sales associates, to our prompt and friendly deliveries, all of our talents blend together as a synergy of people and products. Since many employees have been with Pasquesi for years, they are valued for their extensive knowledge of the business and products. In turn, we offer that insight to our customers. Because of our team philosophy, Pasquesi is a great place to work and shop.

As a team, we strive to be better everyday.

Visit pasquesi.com

FALL CARE FOR NEW PLANTINGS • BULBS

Naturalizing Planting

Buy now, store in a cool, dark location and plant when nighttime temperatures stay in the 40-50s Fertilize at the time of planting

Wait until leaves emerge in spring to fertilize existing bulb plantings as needed Water thoroughly at planting and as needed throughout the fall Mulch tender bulbs or those in areas prone to early sprouting

Wait for the soil to freeze Cover the planting with straw or evergreen boughs

• TREES, SHRUBS AND PERENNIALS Wait a year to fertilize newly planted trees and shrubs Wait until next spring to fertilize perennials as needed

Topdressing perennial gardens with 1-2” of compost anytime Spring, after cutting back plants, makes it easier

Use auger bit on drill to aerate struggling gardens and push compost through the roots Water thoroughly when top few inches of soil are crumbly and moist Mulch the soil to conserve moisture, suppress weeds and insulate the roots

Pull mulch away from tree trunks, shrub stems and crowns of perennials Pruning and Fertilizing Newly Planted Trees and Shrubs

FALL CLEAN UP FOR PEST CONTROL • Remove diseased and insect pest infected plant material

Dispose of in the trash if allowed by municipality Burying is option for some pest problems Burning if allowed - does have negative impact on air quality Hot compost

Temperatures between 150 - 180° needed to kill disease organisms Solarize

About Melinda

Nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has over 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening, the Midwest Gardener's Handbook, and Jackson and Perkins’ Beautiful Roses Made Easy. She hosts the nationally-syndicated “Melinda’s Garden Moment” program airing on over 115 TV and radio stations throughout the U.S. Melinda also hosts the internationally distributed Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series, including the latest Food Gardening for Everyone DVD set. She is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine, writes the twice monthly “Gardeners’ Questions” newspaper column and a nationally-distributed gardening column. She appears regularly as a guest expert on national and local television and radio shows.

Visit Melinda’s website, melindamyers.com

GROWING AND OVERWINTERING MUMS AND ASTERS • Add mums and asters to the landscape

Set them in containers on steps, deck, patio and balcony Plant them in voids in the garden

• Mums in full bloom in fall focus all the energy on flowering instead of forming roots This is the major reason most do not overwinter

• If trying to overwinter mums and asters Allow those planted in the garden to stand for winter Increase chance of success with winter mulch

Apply straw or evergreen boughs after the soil freezes

• Plants in containers Sink pots in vacant part of garden and winter mulch Move containers into an unheated garage

Insulate the roots and water whenever the soil is thawed and dry

FALL LAWN CARE (phone number in podcast is no longer valid) • Keep mowing

Mow high and often Last cut can be shorter as desired

No need if lawn is regularly mown throughout fall

• Fall Lawn Fertilization Fall is best time to fertilize your lawn

Labor Day A second time between Halloween and Thanksgiving, but before the ground freezes

• Fall Lawn Weed Control A healthy lawn is the best defense against weeds, insects and disease

Even one fall fertilization can greatly reduce weeds Fall fertilization may be enough to help thin lawns with bare spots the size of baseballs recover

Fall weed control Effective against many actively growing weeds Lawn will quickly fill in voids left by dead weeds

Eco-friendly weed killers for lawn Corn gluten meal

Pre-emergent ๏ Big reduction in weeds after three years of spring

(about when forsythia and Vanhoutte spirea in bloom) and late summer / early fall applications

Will also kill lawn grass seed, so do not treat when seeding the lawn

Fehedta and Hedta active ingredient Form of chelated iron Kills broadleaf weeds Surrounding grass turns dark green if product lands on the leaves

Creeping Charlie and ground ivy Treat in spring when in full bloom Or treat in fall after a hard freeze

Violets Triclopyr (i.e. Weed B Gon® with purple label)

Treat in mid September and late October Quackgrass

Anything that kills the quackgrass will kill desirable grass Healthy lawn will help crowd out quackgrass Or start over

Crabgrass

• Overseeding Late August through 3rd week in September is best time Core aerate, dethatch or spread compost for good seed-to-soil contact Cut grass short until grass seed germinates, then raise the mowing height Water often enough to keep soil surface moist Once seeds sprout, reduce watering frequency

• Dormant seeding

FALL LEAVES • Put them to work in the landscape

• Shred and leave on the lawn If the size of a quarter, they won’t harm the grass Add organic matter and nutrients to the soil

• Leave on the soil around perennials, trees and shrubs Act as a mulch

Suppress weeds Conserve moisture Moderates soil temperatures

Provides homes for many beneficial insects Insulate insects, toads, frogs and others that winter underground

• Recycle Turn them into compost

WINTER PROTECTION • All plantings

Water as needed throughout fall and before the ground freezes and mulch soil New plantings, moisture lovers and evergreens are a priority

• Perennials and sub shrubs like butterfly bushes, Russian sage and others

Allow to stand for winter Increases hardiness Provides homes for many beneficial insects Seeds attract and feed Provides winter interest in the landscape

• Late emerging perennials like hibiscus and butterfly weed Mark location with tags Leave stems standing Plant spring bulbs

• Evergreens Avoid needle and leaf browning caused by winter wind and sun

Water as needed throughout the fall until ground freezes Mulch soil with bark or wood chips Antidesiccants

Some debate on effectiveness Wind breaks to shelter plants from winter wind and sun

• Grafted roses Wait for a week of freezing temperatures to cover roses Prune back plants only as needed to install protection Various methods

Do nothing - sometimes works Soil mound

Loosely tie canes together to prevent wind whip Cover base of plant with 10-12” of compost or soil Once ground freezes - mulch

Leaves Install hardware cloth around rose planting before ground freezes Once ground freezes, fill with dry leaves packed tight

Minnesota Tip Method Use shovel to cut through roots a foot away from stems Lay plant on its side Cover with soil Mulch once the ground freezes

• Tender and late plantings of perennials and bulbs Winter mulch after the ground freezes Mulch plants with evergreen boughs and marsh hay

• Non-hardy bulbs and tropical plants Treatment varies with bulb Dig non-hardy bulbs after light frost Cure Gently remove excess soil

Remove foliage Store in cool, dark location A few of the more popular

Banana plant Grow as a houseplant or store like a canna

Cannas Caladiums Dahlias Elephant ears

Smaller varieties do best when grown as a houseplant Cure 1-2 weeks Store in peat at 60°

Tuberous begonias Grow as a houseplant Or cure several days and store in dry peat at 50°

Or let tender bulbs die over winter and try some new varieties next spring

• Mandevilla / Dipladenia, tropical hibiscus and bougainvillea Grow like a houseplant

Bright location and water as needed Allow to go somewhat dormant in cool location

Water often enough to prevent the roots from desiccating

• Container plantings - trees, shrubs and perennials Winter Care for Unplanted Trees, Shrubs and Perennials

Move to unheated garage and water when soil thawed and dry Group in sheltered location and surround with insulating materials Sink pot in vacant part of garden

• Protecting plants from animal damage Fencing

Sunk in ground several inches for voles 4 to 5’ tall for rabbits

Apply repellents before the animals start feeding, reapply as needed Scare tactics

Vary to increase effectiveness Try a combination of tactics to increase chance of success

EXTEND THE SEASON WITH FROST PROTECTION • Protect plants when frost is in the forecast

• Floating row covers Allow air, light and water through Trap heat around plants Can leave on day and night as long as needed Water through fabric No construction needed

• Cloches and cold frames Vent on sunny day Cover / close at night

• Fabric sheets Cover in late afternoon Remove in morning

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S I G N U P N O W

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Melinda’s Webinars are Available On Demand!WATCH NOW

MISS A WEBINAR?

UPCOMING APPEARANCES & WEBINARS Check often as more appearances and webinars continue to be added.

September 23rd Webinar

Pollinator-Friendly Perennials for Difficult Situations

September 25th In-Person Green Bay Botanical Garden

25th Birthday Celebration Ask the Plant Doctor Question & Answer Session

September 30th Webinar Shade Gardening for Beauty and Pollinator Appeal

October 9th In-Person Sanger House Gardens

Everything You Need to Know About Hydrangeas

October 20th Webinar Kid & Pet Friendly Houseplants

October 27th Webinar Pruning Tips for Shrubs

Special Thanks to Pasquesi Home and Gardens for Sponsoring this Webinar

Don’t miss out on Pasquesi’s Bulb and Pansy Sale!Pansy 3.5" pots Sale $1.99, reg. $3.99

Bulb Value Packs on Sale for $11.99, reg. $14.99While Supplies Last

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Melinda’s Garden Moment nationally syndicated TV and Radio segments

Birds & Blooms magazine

Books• Midwest Gardener’s Handbook• Small Space Gardening• Midwest Lawn Guides• Minnesota & Wisconsin Getting Started Garden Guide

The Great Courses’ How to Grow Anything DVD Series• Food Gardening for Everyone• Make Your Trees and Shrubs Thrive

• Month-by-Month Gardening in Minnesota & Wisconsin• Michigan Getting Started Garden Guide• Month-by-Month Gardening in Michigan• Month-by-Month Gardening in Iowa

• Your Best Garden and Landscape• Container Gardening Tips and Techniques

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