FALL INTO WINTER CHORES

When the air gets that certain chill outside, don’t think there’ no more gardening to do.  As a matter of fact, now you can work up a sweat both indoors and out.

Keep Watering

         When irrigation water is turned off and systems blown out in the fall, your landscape plants still need water.  Foggy mornings, heavy frost, and cloudy skies often give a false impression that plants have adequate soil moisture.  Relatively dry air and low or no measurable precipitation lead to dry soils.  This means that even in the fall and winter trees, shrubs, and lawn grasses need water to avoid drought stress.  This is particularly true during the fall and early winter when there is little or no snow cover, or when there is an extended warm fall.

         Remember that established large trees have a root spread equal to or greater than the height of the tree.  So apply water to the most critical part of the root zone within the drip line.

   

Check Those Houseplants

         Have any of your houseplants experienced sudden leaf drop?  This isn’t usually caused by insects or disease but is more commonly caused by environmental problems.

         Abrupt changes in their environment commonly cause plants to suddenly lose leaves. Extreme fluctuations in temperature, for example, or a dramatic change in the light level or watering schedule can damage a plant.

         Over watering and under watering are two of the most frequent causes of poor plant health. Over watering leaves the roots susceptible to root rot. Weakened roots cannot carry nutrients and moisture to the other plant parts and this may also result in leaf drop.  If plants aren’t watered enough, the same thing will ultimately happen in that roots cannot carry moisture and nutrients.

         Proper drainage and knowing a particular plant’s moisture needs are vital.  It pays to learn about the plants you’re growing.

And Speaking of House Plants…..

      With apologies to David Letterman, I offer you my own Top Ten List:

    10)  Browning or scorching of leaf (over fertilization, low humidity).

     9) Webbing on leaves (Spider mite activity).

    8) Foliage spots (usually fungus or bacteria, with black or dark brown centers).

   7)  Sudden leaf drop (sudden change in environment).

6)  Yellowing (lack of iron).

5)  Crisp, dry foliage (lack of water).

4)  Spindly new growth (lack of light).

3)  Brown tips on healthy leaf (cold damage).

2)  Sun scorch (bleached spots from too  much sunlight).

1)  Wilting (usually under watering, but could be root rot from over watering).

Wintertime Tips:

•        Empty garden hoses and bring indoors during winter.

•        Turn off outside water faucets.

•        Store your garden tools and furniture.

•        If you are planning to have a live tree this Christmas, dig the transplant hole while soil is not frozen. Move the backfill into your garage or basement and fill the hole with a mulch to keep surrounding soil unfrozen.

•     Don’t cut off tops of perennials until  they have dried (usually late winter).

•      Water trees and shrubs thoroughly before the ground freezes.

•      Put up Christmas outdoor lighting before the blast of storms and freezing cold conditions.

•        Try not to shovel salted snow onto your plants.

Tom McNutt is a professor emeritus at The Ohio State University. and retired NBC4-TV resident green thumb