|
|
 |
 |
October, 2011
In This Issue:
October To-Do List
Compost and Leaves
Winterizing
Home Hardware and Mark's Choice
Green Tomato Recipes
Mark's Choice Product of the Month
Where is Mark this Month?
Digging and Storing Dahlia Tubers
Special Container Edition
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I am not one for making lists. I hate them.
When my wife Mary has some things for me to do – which generally are not too handy in nature as she knows better than to trust me with a job that requires a hammer, saw, measuring tape or level. Instead she will tell me verbally and couches the ‘ask’ with ‘when you have time’.
I find this much more civilized than hanging a to-do list on the fridge with a note, “Gone shopping” or whatever. Mary and I can be very blunt with each other in so many ways, but I am grateful that the to-do list thing was not a part of the marriage contract 30 years ago.
So, it is with this in mind that I gingerly offer a to-do list for October. When you have time, perhaps you would consider doing these things. Otherwise, your roses may freeze their tops off, shrubs may get eaten by bunnies and the lawn may emerge come spring with a case of snow mould that looks like the plague.
With the best of intentions I suggest that you print this portion of my October newsletter and keep it somewhere that it will serve a useful purpose. If the fridge is the place, so be it.
|
| October To-Do List |
 Lawns
 Fertilize your lawn – this is the most important application of the year. Use a slow release nitrogen product for best results. I use CIL Golfgreen Fall Lawn Fertilizer.
Cut your lawn (soon for the last time!) about 2 ½ inches or 6 cm high.
Lubricate your lawn mower, sharpen the blades, clean the cutting deck and spray with oil
Apply Golfgreen Fall lawn food. The most important application of the year.
Veggies
Dig your carrots, leeks, left over potatoes etc. and store in bushel baskets ½ full of pure, dry sand. Put in your basement or fruit cellar.
Pull up your remaining tomato plants and hang them in the cellar or the garage while the green fruit ripens. They do not need light to do this.
Harvest leaf lettuce, mesclin and the like.
Remove the spent bean plants etc. and put in your compost.
|
| Compost and Leaves |
 Put spent annual plants in your composter or compost pile.
Remove the finished compost from your compost unit or pile and spread it over your perennial bed or veggie garden.
Rake leaves off of your lawn and on to your garden where they will decompose and the earth worms will pull them down into the soil
Steal leaves from your neighbours who no doubt did not read the above tip and have put their leaves out for recycling pick up, neatly pressed into paper bags for you to take home and compost. Free fertilizer.
Plant Holland tulips, daffodils, crocus and the like.
|
| Winterizing |
 I know. I am not ready to write this part any more than you are ready to read it.
Begin thinking about winterizing your roses that are not of the ‘shrub’ type. Hybrid Teas, Grandifloras, Floribundas etc. will need about 50 cm (1 ½ feet) of fresh triple mix piled up from the bottom. If you live on the Prairies, now is a good time to do this. In central Canada and the Maritimes the best time to do this is just before the Grey Cup game [which is 6 weeks away – which is why you are going to post this list somewhere that you don’t forget it] – the game is your reward for doing the job!
Wrap spiral plastic collars on young fruit trees to protect them from rodent damage [anytime]
Spray broad-leafed evergreens with Wiltpruf (an anti-desiccant) to prevent the drying effects of winter wind. [when killing frosts are here and just before the snow flies]
Wipe down all of your digging and cutting tools with an oily cloth when you are finished with them for the season.
On a more positive note remember that there are plants that will survive and even thrive in cold weather. Belgium Mums, New England Asters, Sedum Spectabile and ornamental grasses all look great this time of year. Don’t forget flowering cabbage and kale: they improve their looks with frost!
The air is clear and hopefully you will receive some sunshine for your fall work days!!
|
| Home Hardware and Mark's Choice |
 I continue to work with my friends [and they are my friends!] at Home Hardware on new products that are designed to help make gardening easier and a more enjoyable experience for you. Check out the list of over 50 products at www.markcullen.com and after you have used any or all of them please let me know how they worked for you. I read every comment and value your feedback – good, critical or otherwise. Share your feedback.
|
| Green Tomato Recipes |
 Post your green tomato recipes on my Facebook fan page.
Let’s share the wealth of information. And the goodness of a bumper crop of green tomatoes!!
Join me Oct. 1 st in Toronto at Exhibition Place, Direct Energy Centre for Soupalicious. I will be making Hee Man soup for all to enjoy with veggie from my garden … and perhaps some edible flowers too! It is going to be fun! Farmers market and craft fair too.
Go to www.compost.org for details.
|
| Mark's Choice Product of the Month - World's Best Leaf Rake |
 This rake has a ‘memory’ like no other rake on the market.
- Indestructible
- Light weight
- Great for ‘throwing’ leaves and grass clippings across the lawn (rather than pushing them)
- Shortens work time so you can lie in the hammock longer
- Fun to use!!
(Home Hardware item# 5049-352)
|
| Where is Mark this Month? |
Saturday, October 15
Markham Fall Home Show. I speak at 2:00pm followed by a book signing. For more information visit www.markhamhomeshow.com.
|
| Digging and Storing Dahlia Tubers |
 Allow your dahlias to experience a hard frost before you prepare them for winter storage. Allow the plant to dieback naturally. Use a garden fork to loosen the soil around the tuber. Carefully lift the tuber out of the soil and wash gently to remove remaining dirt. Allow the tuber to dry for 24 hours in a cool, dry location.
This is a good time to divide large dahlia tubers into smaller sections. Each new division must have an eye (bud) to produce a new plant. Use a sharp, clean knife to divide tubers into sections.
Place tubers in a cardboard box with sawdust or vermiculite. Choose a storage location in a dry area where the temperature will remain near 40 oF. Check on the tubers periodically during the winter. Look for signs of shriveling. If the tubers are beginning to shrivel you can moisten the storage medium.
Thanks to Merle Carson of the Greater Moncton Dahlia Club for the fantastic selection of Dahlias I received this year. For more info on this great Club check out their new website www.greatermonctondahliaclub.ca .
|
| Special Container Edition |
 From the publishers of Gardens Central, Gardens East and Gardens West comes a Special Container Edition. This special issue is filled with both new information and old tricks we can all use about container gardening. Be sure to check out my article, “Tomatoes in Containers”, for the hottest tips on Canada’s favourite homegrown veggie.
Watch for the Special Container Edition on newsstands October 1.
For more information visit www.gardenscentral.ca
|
| |
For more information, refer to Mark's best selling gardening books — or tune into CanadaAM every Wednesday morning at 8:45am on CTV. If you have a specific question, simply search Mark's Library at www.markcullen.com. |
|
