Normally at the first of each month I dispense my gardening wisdom in the form of a monthly to-do list, something I suspect many of my readers loathe because of the ensuing guilt they feel knowing they won’t get half of it done.
Considering that last week I wrote about putting the garden to bed for winter, there’s no point in beating the same information into the ground a second time.
Several customers have shared with me recently that some plants in their yards are all of a sudden blooming out of season and they want to know why and if they should be concerned. It is not uncommon for plants to sport a few blooms in the fall and it is usually caused by the simple fact that fall weather and day lengths are similar to spring.
The likely reason we might be seeing more of this behavior this fall is because of the hotter summer weather and prolonged drought, which forced some plants into a pseudo state of dormancy. When the cooler temperatures and moisture returned, they woke up again, thought it must be spring and sent out some blooms.
It is nothing to worry about and the worst thing that will happen is that the plants will have fewer blooms come spring. Since this kind of reaction is often stress related, it would be a nice gesture to give blooming plants a treat of some organic fertilizer this fall along with a top-dressing of mulch to hold in the moisture and keep the weeds down over the winter.
Finally, if ever there was the perfect time to plant bulbs it would be this month. Nothing could be easier than digging a hole, dropping in a handful of bulbs, covering them back up and forgetting that you ever did it until you see their little noses poking out of the ground in January or February.
There’s nothing quite as uplifting as a cheery clump of bright yellow daffodils just about the time you are beginning to think that winter will never end. Garden centers will usually still have a good selection to choose from and they will often be on sale so don’t let the craziness of the holidays keep you from planting a few of these gems. You won’t be sorry come spring.
Have any questions? Send questions to me at info@sunnysidenursery.net.
I gladly respond to all questions in a timely manner, and often in the evening under the influence of a glass wine, which can make for some colorful responses. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Steve Smith is owner of Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville and can be reached online at info@sunnysidenursery.net.
Upcoming class
Sunnyside Nursery is hosting a class on pruning at 10 a.m. Nov. 7 and 1 p.m. Nov. 8. Learn all the basics of pruning your shrubs, Japanese maples, evergreens, hedges, hydrangeas, fruit and flowering trees and whatever else you might have in your yard.
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