Friday, October 26, 2007

Yard Cleaning

Here it is already, the last weekend of October. For me it will be the last big weekend of yard clean up which is much later then most years. The planters will be cleaned out, even though some have not froze yet. The last of the leaves will be raked up except for around the honey locust in the backyard which is always very late in dropping its leaves.

If you have not fertilized your lawn that can still be done, bulbs can still be planted, even trees and shrubs can still be planted. But, the clock is ticking - November and yes winter is lurking just around the corner.

Make your weekend a good one.

Oh yea, it is pumpkin carving weekend. I'll post some pictures here on Monday.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Time to plant spring bulbs

Tomorrow (Saturday looks like it will be the better of the two days this weekend. It is time to plant those spring blooming bulbs – tulips, daffodils, crocus, etc. You can guess what I’ll be doing. I’ll also be planting some of those bulbs that often get overlooked, like alium, scillia and muscari.

If you’re planting bulbs, don’t forget some of the more unusual bulbs. They are often the first to bloom in the spring. Because they are smaller, you can actually plant them in the same hole as some of the larger bulbs. I plan on digging the hole, planting the daffodils, putting some soil over those bulbs and then placing the smaller muscari on top of them. Twice as many flowers with out twice as much work – I like that.

Make your weekend a good one.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Record-breaking heat

Well Saturday afternoon turned out to be nice or at least not raining. Record breaking heat in October? It felt like July out there. I fertilized the lawn and turned off the bubbling rock water feature that I built this past spring. The leaves were starting to fall from the trees and rather then risking have them plug up the pump, it was time to shut it down for the winter.

Here is a useful tip I learned a few years ago, but have never had to use because I have not had a water feature in my yard until this year. When you take the pump from your water garden, fountain or any other water feature and bring indoors for the winter, put it in a bucket of water for the winter months. This keeps the gaskets and rubber fittings in the pump from drying out which will in turn extend the life of your pump.

Make your day a good one.

Friday, October 5, 2007

This weekend's forecast

Another wet weekend is in the forecast. If there is some sun or it stops raining, I will get the lawn fertilized and try to get a few things done in the yard. Even a few hours of sun would be really nice.

Make your day a good one.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Way too wet

It was way too wet to get anything done in the yard this weekend. I’m hoping for drier weather next weekend to get some things done. I realized over the weekend that last year, all the annuals were already dead from the killing frost. No frost in sight yet and with all the rain, things just keep growing and looking good.

Make your day a good one.