Garden Column for the Salisbury Post

Darrell Blackwelder

November 15, 2006

     Outdoor activities and chores never seem to cease even as winter approaches. Homeowners and gardeners often call about certain activities. Many believe that fall is the best time to prune. Actually pruning can be done at any time of the year; however, heavy pruning in the fall may cause damage later in the winter. Heavy duty pruning should be initiated in the spring in mid-March to avoid cold damage. Heavy pruning now may stimulate growth in some plants and with the possibility of unseasonably warm temperatures in late winter, sp new growth can easily be 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, weiglia, forsythia and camellia japonica should be pruned after bloom. Bud set is initiated in most spring blooming plant materials in late summer and early fall; pruning now would remove much of the flowers for spring. This holds true for other spring flowering trees such as dogwood, flowering cherry or redbud. Trees and shrubs can be lightly pruned now. Excessive summer growth or an occasional limb that hampers mowing can be removed without major damage to the plant.
    Be sure to remove leaves from newly seeded lawns. Recent rains and windy conditions over the past few days produce layers of wet leaves deterring growth and development on newly seeded areas of the lawn. Those with newly seeded lawns need to carefully rake away or blow leaves so emerging seed and established lawns can grow and expand its 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 will rip young seedlings out of the ground. Continue to fertilize lawns into late November. Continuous fertilization allows fescue to develop a strong root system necessary for next summer's 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 soluble fertilizer when temperatures fall below 60 degrees. Fertilization during unseasonably warm temperatures causes the plants to stretch and become weak.
    Vegetable gardens and other gardening areas should have a cover crop planted to reduce erosion and weed control. Now is the time to plant rye grain, crimson clover, Austrian winter peas, vetch or annual ryegrass now. Winter cover crops add organic matter increasing the workability and fertility of the soil.

Darrell Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of horticulture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. For archived garden columns or other information, visit the Rowan County Master Gardener web site at www.rowanmastergardener.com , e-mail Darrell_Blackwelder@ncsu.edu or by phone at 704-216-8970.