Fall Planting Season
Fall is almost here. The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler. It’s been a little warm so far the last wekk or so but it will be cooling soon. The official first day of autumn is September 22nd.
The wether is expected to cool down starting Sunday and next week the forecast is for the 80’s. Fall is definietly in the air. Time to get out and do fall planting.
THAT MEANS FALL PLANTING SEASON IS HERE! Â
Fall is the best time for planting just about everything, paritcularly trees. Plants that are planted in fall get the cooler weather to get roots established without the stress of the heat and transplant shock and continue to establish roots even after they lose their leaves. They will continue root devlopment with  the fall and winter rains. The roots then are established and the tree or shrub is ready to take off and grow next spring and is well established before the heat of the summer and can tolerate the summer heat much better than the same plant put out in the spring.
The inventory here at the nursery looks great. It is full and is ready for fall planting. If you are planning on planting trees and shrubs this fall, don’t wait too late in the season. You want to get trees and shrubs in as early as possible in the fall to get the maximum amount of root development before the weather gets cold. Do you remember in July and August where you just baked and wished you had that nice shade tree? We have an excellent selection of shade trees for fall planting. And if we don’t have in stock the tree or shrub you are looking for we can generally order it and have it within a week or two.
We have a nice selection of Japanese Maples in 5 gallon containers @ $35.00 each. They show a little leaf stress from the summer heat but plant them this fall and they will get well established over the winter and will be beautiful and fully acclimated for next summer’s heat.
Citrus trees are 20% off. We want to clear them out so we do not carry them through the winter. If you plant a citrus this fall, be sure to protect it from freezes this winter with a sheet or blanket or frost cloth. Hang old fashioned Christmas lights in it to keep some heat around it during the cold nights.
FERTILIZING
Fall fertilizing should be done this month. This is an important fertilizing because the plants will be going dormant soon and will store the food for next spring so they can thrive in the spring. Be sure to get it done before the fall color starts to show, for the plant to fully utilize the fertilizer. If fall color is showing then it is beginning to go dormant and will not use all the fertilzer you give it. Fertilize your evergreen plants in the fall as well to give them food to go through the winter. Some exceptions would be Rhododendrons and Azaleas and Camellias. Those whould have been fertilized three times after bloom, each fertilizing 30 days apart. If you fertilize them too late, they grow well next spring but not bloom.
If you have a spring blooming tree or shrub that did not bloom well this past spring, use a bloom fertilizer on it this fall and again in the spring to try to get it to set more buds and bloom better next spring.
FALL WEED CONTROL
Use Remuda or other non-selective herbicide to kill most growing weeds and grasses. Mix a preemergent with the weed killer to stop seeds from sprouting thus reducing the need to spray again in a few weeks. Remember, don’t use a preemergent in areas where you want to plant seeds. Â Be sure to spray the grasses before they start going dormant, particularly bermuda grass.
Use a brush killer on blckberries if you need to get rid of them. Do it while they are still green and actively growing. We carry Montery Brush & Vine Control. It works well. I’ve been using it on the hillside we are improving where we removed lots of blackberries. As they start to regrow I spray them and will eventually kill them off.
WINTER ANNUALS AND VEGGIES
Our first shipment of winter veggies arrived this week. We have Brocolli, Lettuce, Cabbage, Swiss Chard, Cauliflower, Kale, abd Collards. We will be getting new shipmentents for the next several weeks. They can be planted anytime now and have plenty of time to get well established before the weather becomes cold. Winter annual flowers are now available also.
FALL WATERING
Don’t stop watering your plants after the first couple of showers. We need to have significant amount of rain to keep the ground moist before you can stop watering altogether. The amount of water can be reduced as the temperatures go down but makes sure you keep things watered until we get good reliable rainfall. When we do get the rainy season going, put a cut in the side of the basin around trees if you have them so that they do not stand in water through the winter that could damage the tree.
RECYCLE YOUR USED CONTAINERS
We will gladly take your used containers off your hands. We will reuse them and keep them from going to the landfill. Bring them with you when you shop and drop them off or if after hours you can set them by the gate and we will take care of them.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
NOVEMBER: Asparagus, artichokes, strawberries, blackberrries and raspberries arrive.
First dormant spray due on fruit trees around Thanksgiving.
Oregon stock arrives late November.
DECEMBER: Bare root roses arrive. Rose lists are available now.
Second dormant spraying due on fruit trees around Christmas.
JANUARY: Bare root fruit trees arrive. Bare root fruit tree lists will be available soon.
Blueberries will be available mid January.
First fruit tree pruning clinic. Date will be announced.
FEBRUARY: Third dormant spraying due on fruit trees mid February around Valentine’s Day.
Second fruit tree pruning clinic. Date will be announced.
REMEMBER THAT FALL IS THE BEST TIME FOR PLANTING.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.
Jeff
