Garden Column for the Salisbury Post

Darrell Blackwelder

October 28, 2001

     Cooler fall temperatures entice homeowners to pick up their
garden tools and enjoy working outdoors. Many inquire about
outdoor garden chores at this time of the year. Below are outdoor
activities home gardeners should consider.
     Many believe that fall is the best time to prune. Actually
pruning can be done at any time of the year.  An old
gardeners' saying is to "prune when the shears are sharp" is true
in some situations, however, heavy pruning in the fall may cause
damage later in the winter.  Heavy duty pruning should be
initiated in the spring in mid­March to avoid cold damage. Heavy
pruning acts as fertilizer to plants initiating growth in the
plant.  Unseasonably warm temperatures in late winter spark new
growth that is easily killed by late frosts or freezes.  Fruit
trees and grape vines should be pruned as late as possible to
avoid early bloom kill in late winter or early spring.
     Spring blooming plants such as azaleas and camellia japonica
should be pruned after bloom.  Buds are set in the fall and
pruning now removes much of the flowers for spring.  This is also
true for other spring flowering trees and shrubs.
     Trees and shrubs can be lightly pruned now. Excessive summer
growth or an occational limb that hampers mowing can be removed
without major damage to the plant.
     Be sure to rake leaves from newly seeded lawns. Fallen, wet
leaves  deters growth and weakens the turfs' expanding root
system. Newly planted fescue lawns should be mowed when the young
turf reaches a height of 3 or 4 inches.  Make sure the mower
blade is very sharp.  Dull mower blades rip young seedlings out
of the ground. Continue to fertilize lawns in late October and
into November.  Continuous fertilization in the fall and early
winter allows fescue todevelop a strong root system necessary
for next summers survival.
     Pansies can still be planted.  Make sure that the plant beds
are deeply tilled with ample soil amendments. Mulch newly set
plants with a layer of fine bark.  Dead head spent blooms
throughout the fall and winter to allow maximum root growth.
Fertilize with a water soluable fertilizer when tempertures fall
below 60 degrees.  Fertilization during unseasonably warm
temperatures casuses the plants to streach and become weak.
     Vegetable gardens and other gardening areas should have a
cover crop planted to reduce erosion and weed control. Plant rye
grain, clover, Austrian winter peas, vetch or annual ryegrass
now.  These crops add organic matter increasing the workability
of the soil in the spring.

Darrell Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of
horticulture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Service in Rowan County. Visit the new Master Gardener Web Site
at www.rowanmastergardener.com for updates on Master Gardener
events and activities as well as archieved garden columns.