The weather so far this fall has been a bit warm. The 10 day forecast shows it cooling down some at the end of this week and continuing cooler from there. Farmers almanac forecast I saw calls for a mild and wet winter for our area. I haven’t compared that to other long range forecasts, but there are an abundance of acorns on the oak trees this year which can be an indication of a wet winter to come.
Regardless of the forecasts, FALL IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR PLANTING TREES AND SHRUBS.
Now is the best month for planting fall/winter vegetables. We have a great selection of organic winter vegetable starts in now.
Fall fertilizing should be done as soon as the weather cools down. I would say you want to get it done over the next couple of weeks before the plants start showing lots of fall color. This fertilizing is important because it gives plants a good boost and also gives them stored food for winter. Next spring they will use that stored food for growth as soon as the weather warms. A balanced fertilizer is good for almost everything in the landscape. Citrus trees would like a citrus fertilizer and this should be the last application for them for the season. Don’t feed them in the winter. Rhododendrons and azaleas should not be fertilized now unless it is with a bloom fertilizer. This will help give more blooms next spring. The same could be used on Dogwoods if you have one that does not want to bloom well. It may help.
The weather is now ideal for fall planting of trees and shrubs. Fall planted trees and shrubs develop roots through the cooler fall and even into the winter and then are ready to take off and grow next spring and will be well established by summer to get through the heat of the summer with no problems.
Next month we will be getting in our Blueberries, pomegranates, figs and also berries. I don’t know of the exact dates but I will notify via email and on our Facebook page when they come in.
Don’t forget to do your dormant spraying of your fruit trees this winter during the dormant season. It is too early now, but the first spraying will need to be done in November. Use copper mixed with horticultural oil or Neem oil and spray the entire tree as well as the trunk. Rake up leaves from this year when they fall to help reduce the spread of the fungus that causes leaf curl. Remember to spray 3 times during the dormant season. We suggest Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentines day as easy dates to remember.
Enjoy the beautiful fall weather to come. It will be here soon. And remember that fall is the best time for planting trees and shrubs.
A reminder that we are changing our business hours.
Open 6 days a week and closed on Tuesday.
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9-5
Sunday 10-4
Tuesday Closed.
We hope to see you soon.
Jeff
