Time’s Running Out To Prepare For Onset Of Colder Weather

Today is Oct. 3rd. Twelve days short of a year ago, on Oct. 15, it began to snow … and snow … and snow. Though predictions don’t have this winter giving us a repeat performance of last winter, our window of opportunity for accomplishing fall chores is quickly closing. Therefore, it may behoove us to create a to-do list and begin checking off the to-do’s.

This list is not going to include the normal lengthy explanations of the whys and wherefores for doing a particular chore. It’s simply going to be a reminder list dealing with specific aspects of the yard. Let’s go to work.

Lawn

Fertilize for the last time now, with a balanced fertilizer (all three numbers).

Control weeds.

Core aerate.

Keep lawn clean (as best you can) of fallen leaves and needles. A few left here and there won’t hurt. However, if you wait until the last minute, you may have more than piles of leaves to contend with next spring.

According to Dan Owens at the Saw Clinic, “Winterize the lawn mower by filling the tank with gas, followed by a stabilizing additive. Run the additive through the mower for 5 to 10 minutes. Once again, fill the engine with gas. It is now ready for its long winter nap. It is also beneficial to start the mower a few times during the winter months.”

A new plug, filter and clean oil are always recommended for the spring tune-up.

Gas left over in gas cans can be used in your car, as long as it’s the type of gas used by your car. Gas and oil mix should be disposed of at the local transfer station’s hazardous waste areas.

Trees

Take advantage of the great nursery sales. If you don’t wish to plant trees now, buy them and wait until the leaves drop before planting. At that time, they are dormant.

Evergreens can be planted any time. Spray the needles with water to help keep the plant from dehydrating. Once the rains begin, stop this regimen.

Place a rodent collar around the base of young trees to protect them from mice and other harmful winter critters. Don’t place mulch around the base of the trees. Piles of mulch provide five-star accommodations for hungry creatures throughout the winter.

Wrap trunks of young trees (3 inches in diameter or less), with tree wrap to help protect them from cracking during the winter months.

Protect trunks of trees from rubbing antlers of deer by wrapping the trunks with heavy-duty hog wire.

Rake up fallen leaves and either put them in the compost, turn them into the ground or use them as mulch.

Rake and destroy any diseased leaves. Many diseases can overwinter if left on the ground or in the compost.

Shrubs

Again, take advantage of the sales. If you can’t plant this fall, simply heal them into the garden, container and all, and plant them next spring. When choosing plants, look for colorful or interesting bark and stem structure for potential winter beauty.

Watch any winter pruning. If you prune too heavily on spring-flowering plants such as forsythia, lilac etc., you may remove all the spring show.

If mice are a problem under low growing evergreens, you may try placing baits under their branches. ALWAYS read labels carefully and ALWAYS keep it out of reach of children, cats and dogs.

Roses

Don’t cut back roses. Let them go to hip.

If the bud unions are at ground level or above, cover them with one foot of soil as temperatures get colder. Just before the ground freezes, mound the bushes with needles or large leaves or wrap them in cages of newspaper.

Treat the bud unions of climbing roses in the same manner as hybrid teas. The canes need to be protected by wrapping them in burlap.

Tree roses planted in pots should be moved to the garage. Keep them moist through the winter months. Those planted in the ground must be caged and wrapped to protect the bud union above the ground.

Rake and remove any diseased leaves and destroy them.

Vegetables

Leave winter squash, including pumpkins, on the vines for as long as possible. They can even be left after the first frost, as long as the temps don’t dip below 28 degrees.

Plant garlic and spinach for next year’s harvest.

Till in all overmature veggies along with their stems and leaves. By next spring, you’ll have a rich, earthy soil to plant in.

And then, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Phyllis Stephens The Spokesman-Review