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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 2015)
PAGE 6 • HERMISTON HERALD/EAST OREGONIAN HOME IMPROVEMENT & CAR CARE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015 REMEMBER YOUR YARD AND GARDEN Fall yard work lays foundation for spring Fall lawn care tips By KATHY ANEY Staff Writer As temperatures fall, we roll our lawnmowers into the garage, stow our gardening tools and say good-bye to our yards until spring. Or not. Fall, say landscapers and gar- den gurus, is prime time for laying the foundation for a lush and boun- tiful spring. Landscaper Greg Mc- Laughlin has spent years getting WRNQRZWKHHEEVDQGÀRZVRIWKH seasons and coaxing the best out of each. Fall, he said, has its own to-do list. Fertilizing in the fall “Fall fertilization of your lawn and plants is important,” McLaugh- lin said. “It’s one that a lot of people miss – they think more of spring.” 0DQ\ RI WKH EHQH¿WV RI IHUWLO- izing in autumn are hidden under- ground until the weather warms again. “You don’t want a lot of top growth and you won’t get it during the winter, but fall fertilization gives the lawn and plants a chance to develop root growth,” he said. Generally, October and No- vember are good months to apply slow-release, low-nitrogen fertiliz- ers. Stick to the winter blends, he said. ³<RXGRQ¶WZDQWDKXJHÀXVKRI growth that can be damaged,” Mc- Laughlin advised. “If you stimulate too much growth, it’s more exposed for freeze damage.” Sprinkler systems In colder climates, experts ad- vise winterizing irrigation systems by draining or blowing out the pipes with an air compressor. No one wants the damage caused by water freezing inside the system. McLaughlin says the deed doesn’t need to be done before the ¿UVWIUHH]H+LVODQGVFDSHUVJHQHU- ally start winterizing clients’ sys- tems about the end of October. “People get nervous when it gets near freezing,” he said, “but STAFF PHOTO BY KATHY ANEY Steve 0alcom of 0c/aughlin /anGscaping ZeeGs a client·s ÁoZerbeG in early 2ctober $s the Zeather groZs colGer he Zill move on to fertilizing pruning anG Zeatherizing sprinkler systems a quick freeze isn’t generally a problem. It has to get into the low 20s or high teens for a number of days for cold to penetrate into the ground far enough to cause dam- age.” Soil, he said, is a good insula- tor. Faucets that aren’t frost-free, however, are a little more at risk. Remember to use shut-off valves to keep water out of those vulner- able faucets. +RPHRZQHUVFDQEORZWKHZD- ter out of their systems with air compressors or hire professionals if they don’t want the headache. McLaughlin’s crew removes wa- ter from irrigation system with a large-capacity compressor on a trailer. Draining can be accomplished manually, too. Some systems have manual drain valves installed at the lowest point in the network of pipes. McLaughlin advised turning off the sprinkler clock in your sys- tem’s control box for the winter, but not unplugging. Spending a tiny amount on electricity, pennies really, saves one from having to re- program the system in the spring. Protect vulnerable plants Last winter, a freeze on the heels of unseasonably warm tem- peratures spelled doom for hun- dreds of trees and shrubs in Uma- tilla County. The mid-November came at a time when plants To prune or not to prune? freeze hadn’t yet done their gradual shut- Fall can be a good for light prun- down, and their cambium layers ing and removal of deadwood. Such were still full of moisture. Roses pruning, McLaughlin said, can lead and other vulnerable shrubs were to vigorous bursts of new growth in especially hard-hit. Probably a the spring. After the plants go dor- quarter of the roses in Pendleton, mant in fall, the leaves have dropped McLaughlin said, fell victim. off and the structure of the tree or “It’s helpful to mulch around shrub is easily seen. roses,” he said. “It gives them +RZHYHU³GRQ¶WSUXQHLQIUHH]- more protection. They are a little ing temperatures,” he said. “That touchier plant in our climate.” can damage the plant.” Any plants that took a hit from There are different schools of last year’s freeze, he said, would thought on pruning roses, Mc- EHQH¿WIURPPXOFKLQJ /DXJKOLQVDLG+LVHPSOR\HHVSUXQH Plants in planters or raised beds to about two feet in height. Pruning are even more at risk of dying in a removes the deadwood, improves winter freeze. air circulation and can improve the “Bring those plants inside or plant’s shape. protect them,” he said. The following are some tips from Popular Mechanics for fall lawn care. Keep mowing: Continue to water and mow your lawn, as needed, throughout the fall. Drop the mower blade to its lowest setting for the last two cuttings of the year. That will allow more sunlight to reach the crown of the grass, and there will be less leaf to turn brown during the winter. *Note: As you lower the blade, just remember not to trim off more than one- third of the grass blades at any one time. If necessary, gradually lower the cutting height until the time of the final two cuttings. Aerate the soil: Aerate your lawn so that oxygen, water and fertilizer can easily reach the grass’ roots. Rake the Leaves: It’s important to remove fallen leaves from your lawn as soon as possible. Don’t wait until all the leaves have fallen to start raking. Leaves will become wet from rain and morning dew, stick together and form an impenetrable mat that will suffocate the grass and breed fungal diseases. An alternative to raking leaves is to use a lawnmower fitted with a collection bag or vacuum system. Fertilize: If you fertilize your lawn only once a year, do it in the fall. Grass leaves grow much more slowly as the weather turns cool, but the grass roots and rhizomes continue to grow quickly. A fall application of fertilizer delivers essential nutrients for the grass to grow deep roots now and to keep nutrients on reserve for spring. Wait until mid-to-late fall, then apply a dry lawn fertilizer. For optimum coverage, use a walk-behind drop spreader. Fill bald spots: The quickest, easiest way to do this is with an all-in-one lawn repair mixture. Sold at most garden shops and home centers, this ready-to-use mixture contains grass seed, a special quick-starter lawn fertilizer, and organic mulch. Use a garden rake to scratch loose the soil at the bald spot in your lawn. Then spread a thick layer of the lawn repair mixture over the area. Lightly compact the mixture, then water thoroughly and continue to water every other day for two weeks. Weed control: Weeds, like most plants, are in the energy-absorbing mode during the fall. Apply herbicide now and the weeds won’t return in the spring. Read label before use. Most manufacturers recommend applying weed killer during early-to-mid autumn, when daytime temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees. SOURCE: PopularMechanics.com
