I IMAGINE the thought of ‘wasting’ one of the last good

days of the year laboring in your garden is probably not one
of the penultimate items on your list of priorities.

There are a few of you who
eagerly look forward to gardening
in all but the worst of weather;
sadly you are in the minority.

However, this is not the time to
be neglectful in your duties. If you
wish a garden that is more
beautiful, more productive and less
work in the future, October is the
best month in which to prepare for
it,

Here are a few things to do
besides attending Oktoberfest and
the Canucks opener: ;

Lawn Care — You could still
sneak in an application of fast
releasing, high nitrogen lawn food
(12-4-8 plus two per cent iron) ear-
ly in the month, no later than the
15th.

The heat of ‘ate summer and
early fall is a stressful time for
most varieties of turf grass and this
fertilizer boost will help them re-
cover while it is still warm enough
for them to grow. oy

Obviously, this means you must
maintain a proper cutting sched-
ule, especially with the approacii
of the wet weather and frost.

If you keep it too long, you risk
the onset of diseases such as snow
mould as well as that plague of

. Pacific Northwest lawns, the
dreaded moss. The same rationale
applies to the leaves: rake them up
as quickly as possible, before they
cause problems. ;

Leatherjackets are the maggot-
like larvae of the Marsh Crane Fly.
They can cause extensive damage

‘to turf grass and even small seedl-
ings and transplants by chewing at
their roots.

You should consider spraying
diazinon if, and only if, you have
seen the characteristic brown pat-
ches in the lawn and/or you were

invaded by swarms of these giant,
mosquito-like flyers.

Apply diazinon 12.5 per cent EC
using 300 ml in enough water to
cover 100 m2 of lawn (1 0z./gal./
100 f¢2.).

It would be better if we could
avoid the use of chemicals such as
diazinon, but I know of no effec-
tive alternative for this particular
problem. :

1 wish to remind you that it’ is
extremely toxic and should be used
with common sense after carefully
reading the label.

Flower Beds — Even though
some of your annuals may still
look reasonably attractive, you
should start pulling them out by
the middle of tie month.

They will not last much longer
and will oniy act as a breeding
ground for pests and diseases after
they have expired.

After clearing the beds, apply
liberal amounts of bonemeal and
work it into the soil. This will
build up the necessary reserves of
phosphorus and potassium needed
to produce the best of displays
next year.

It also supplies calcium which,

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among other things, sweetens the
soil.

You may begin planting your
fall bulbs over the latter half of the
month.

These should also be planted
with bonemeal to develop strong
roots over the winter.

The addition of washed fill-sand
mixed into the soil below the bulbs

over the

garden gate

Geoff Tobiasson

will increase drainage. and next
year’s performance.

You may start dividing and
thinning. some of your perennial
plants during the same period.

Plants such as irises, peonies,
day lilies, etc., will benefit if they
are lifted and thinned periodically.

Use the resources of your local
library to help you with timing and
procedures for your particular
varieties.

Vegetable Beds — With the
possible exception of some pur-
posely planted winter crops,
harvest time should be drawing to
a close.

When this happens clean out the
beds as quickly as possible for the
same sanitary reasons as mention-
ed above.

You may also apply liberal
amounts of bonemeai and work it
into the soil. -

After you have raked out the
beds plant a green manure crop

DECOR

UNIPAVE
HOLLAND

for preparing a great garden

such as fall rye or vetch. Sow vetch
at the rate of 1 1b./600 f(2 and fall
rye at 1 1b./300 £2.

Once it has attained knee height,
turn it inte the soil and let it com-
post in the ground.

This will not only replace some
of the organic materials that were
lost during the past year, but also
suppress the growth and spread of
weeds.

Dolomite lime can be added

now; especially to those areas that.

produced cole crops (cauliflower,
cabbage, broccoli, Brussels
sprouts, and kohirabi).

Do not apply lime to that ‘area
reserved for next year’s potatoes;
to do so could cause scab.

Trees and Shrubs — It’s a little
too early to begin major pruning at
this time, but don’t be afraid to
tidy things up.

Remove any damaged or diseas-
ed branches as they are found. In
the case of disease, pass the
blade(s) of pruning tools through a
flame to avoid transference to
healthy tissue.

Miscellaneous — Start re-ac-
climatizing your house plants and
tender patio plants such as fuchsia

Aa NSD Mis Loe Sana) aaa es) aera LLY

11 - Friday, October 7, 1988 - North Shore News

(SINS MOS Saw:

and hibiscus to the indoor en-
vironment. If you bring them in at
night and take them back out dur-
ing the day, they will not suffer the
same degree of shock. :

Be sure to check them over for
bugs before you infest the house
with hitchhikers.

If you have an area that could
act as a temporary quarantine
zone, you might avoid some
serious problems.

If you find any nasties, three
applications of Safer’s Soap at five.
day intervals should do the trick.

Fall is a great time to plant and,
because many of the garden cen-
tres are trying to reduce inventory,
many plants are on sale, If you are
looking to renovate all or part of
the garden, get out there and get
busy.

There are zillions of other duties
to perform; but I am running out
of space.

Think about

forcing indoor

~ bulbs, treating the pets (and house)

for fleas, cleaning out the

greenhouse, etc.

Just as well, even I was feeling a
little daunted looking at the list.

AREAS ANTE ITT =