How Are Husbands Like Lawn Mowers?….They Are Hard To Start, Emit Noxious Odours And Half The Time They Don’t Work!
It was the Lumby and Districts Public Market last Saturday and although it was cool it was a pleasant day. Although I did not set up my stall I did arrive at the end to thank the vendors and celebrate the year with my Chocolate Zucchini Cake and a pleasant glass of wine. It takes a great deal of work for every one to be there every Saturday and I thank the Vendors as well as all our faithful clients who come to see us.
As it gets dark earlier and the temperature slowly creeps down the preparation of the yard and garden is foremost in our minds and it is a busy time with a deadline that no one knows. While one can protect their crops with covers for a short time it is time to harvest with a vengeance. Tomato plants that show any signs of fungal issues or late blooms should be trimmed or completely harvested. Most Tomatoes that show any sign of ripening can be pulled and cleaned in a bath of water with a bit of bleach and after they are completely dried placed in boxes and covered with newspaper, they will ripen faster in a warm and dark environment. Check them daily and remove any that are ripe or any that show any signs of rot. I freeze mine when they are ripe as I don’t have time to can and they slip out of their skins very well when you want to use them in a soup or sauce. I use the same slightly bleach water when harvesting my squash by killing the bacteria on the surface they will last a very long time in a cool dark place.
This is the time to give your lawn a good fertilizer with an addition of 2-4-D which is an organic hormone that will cause broad leafed weeds like Dandelion, Purslane and Chick Weed to grow rapidly then die off. The Fall fertilization is the second most important treatment you can do for your lawn what this will do for your lawn is promote root growth that will allow it to be more drought resistant in the following year and also set up its defence against fungal disease. This will also help eliminate moss growth in a lawn as good feed is usually the reason for it although most people think it is a lime deficiency. Also to help with disease and fungal issues is a brisk raking or if your lawn is quite large a power raking to remove dead matter and moss. If your lawn requires top dressing or overseeding this is the time to do it as seeding is best done for repair or new lawns is rapidly coming to an end. Lawns do not die back from freezing and are not totally dormant through the winter. They will start growth all be it slowly when air and soil temperatures are over 0 degrees Celsius no matter what month it is. Watering at this time should be done twice weekly and deeply to prevent the lawn from going dormant and prevent powdery mildew. Mid morning to late afternoon are good times to water and will allow enough time for the blades of grass to dry to prevent fungal problems. A good mixture of seed that will work for your lawn should be a mixture of Kentucky Blue Grass and other seeds recommended by a professional. It will usually be a mix of grass that will do well in shade as well as sunny areas. Cheaper seed will have a higher content of Rye Grass which will die out over the winter and leave your lawn susceptible to weed infestations. I’ve noticed that I have an area where Fairy Ring has affected my lawn. This often will occur with a wet spring where funguses can readily grow and then will show its real damage once the weather has warmed and dried. These are rings in the lawn that are circular in appearance and are due to poor aeration and fertilization. These mushrooms thrive on the organic matter in the lawn that produce starch and sugars. Once the rings have appeared you can count on around 8 inches of bullet hard earth that will have to be pried open with a pitch fork and watered deeply as well as good application of fertilizer as this thick matt will prevent water and food from reaching the roots of the grass. This is caused by the root structure of the mushrooms. Mow your lawn weekly and remove all leaves and grass clippings. Your last mowing should leave your lawn at about an inch in hight to overwinter.
Happy Gardening!
Samantha Nason
BS Ranch & Greenhouses
250 547 6567
sam1nason@gmail.com
