Photo by Guy L. Adams

Gardening by the Yard By Tom Corbin A Fairlington Gardener Fall Gardening Hints Summer's Final Fling Flowering annuals are ready to put on that final performance, so to extend their flowering time, keep them pinched back so they continue to set buds. You will notice colors intensify as the daylight shortens. Returning Plants Inside Regularly feed and water container and hanging plants to keep them vigorous until frost. Begin readying any houseplants that you summered on the patio for their return inside. You will want to do some pruning before bringing them inside and to clean the pot and plant of any insects.

Remember, when the plant is inside, it will need less water as it will not be vigorously growing. If you kept your amaryllis growing outside, now is the time to let it "dry off".

Turn the pot on its side to prevent its catching any water. Cut the foliage off after it yellows and dies back to the bulb. Before you want it to bloom again, remove some of the soil and add fresh soil and begin watering. Increase the water as the flower bud appears and bring into strong light. (Amaryllis usually bloom four to six weeks from the time the bud appears and they like pots which are about one inch bigger than the bulb.)

Fall Color

Remove those parts of your border which look too "ratty" to rejuvenate, and plant pansies for fall and winter color. Keep them deadheaded (removed dead blossoms) and fertilized for best growth and blossom. A few containers of pansies will keep your patio bright all winter!

Also consider planting snapdragons, red lettuce, and ornamental kale and cabbage for winter interest. Fill in where ever there's space with mums. "Wintergreen" is an underused plant (groundcover) with small evergreen leaves and big red berries which remain throughout the winter.

Think Spring

Order spring flowering bulbs if you did not take advantage of special bulb offers from catalogues this summer. Remember the smaller the bulb size, the earlier it is planted. It's always fun to try new plants.

And though not new, if you can find Madonna lily bulbs (lilium candidum), plant them as soon as possible; you will soon see a rosette of leaves appear before the onset of winter. They are the "traditional" lilies of religious art and like sun and good drainage.

Also consider planting arum bulbs (arum italicum) as these will produce green, shield-like leaves which remain through the winter and disappear in the summer. Plant daffodils in October and tulips until the ground freezes. (Note: squirrels like most bulbs, but do not like daffodils. Consider spraying other bulbs with a rodent repellant before planting.)

Other Tips

• As temperatures cool, plants use less water so adjust your watering schedule accordingly.
• Fall is a good time to divide and transplant overgrown perennials.
• Try a dozen or two of new, exotic spring bulbs!
• Consider making a large container garden for fall/ winter interest on the patio. Fill it with grasses, an evergreen, some pansies, and maybe a flowering cabbage or two. Place a few pumpkins beside it and, voila, you're ready for fall!
• All garden clean up done in the fall means less work in the spring!

Featured Website

Check out the gardening feature on HGTV (Home and Garden TV) http://www.hgtv.com for tips and advice! You may also access the site from the Fairlington gardening page at http://www.fairlington.org/gardenadvisor.htm

Click Here for July 2004 Column

Photo from Tom's Garden by Commons Resident Guy L. Adams (Click on Photo for More Images)

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