The fall months are typically dry so be sure to monitor your sprinkler system. Look for broken, clogged, or mis-directed sprinkler heads and make necessary repairs and adjustments. As the weather gets cooler reduce the frequency of your watering to every 5 or 6 days. Ornamental plants and trees need approximately 1 in. of water or rain per week. Lawns need 1/2 to 3/4 in. of water when showing signs of wilting (like blue gray coloring or folded blades). To get the maximum benefit from your watering session, verify the length of time you are watering as you may want to increase the time the sprinklers run in each zone.
Fertilize the lawn using a quality fertilizer like Fertilome Premium. This fertilizer releases slowly and is designed for all southern lawn types. It is safe to apply a Weed n' Feed fertilizer when the daily high temperature falls below 85 degrees for two weeks or more.
Weed n' Feed products are specific for your lawn type so read the product label carefully. If you have experienced some "die back" from pests or fungus there is likely some thatch accumulated in the lawn. We have a great product called Natural Guard Soil Activator that provides an easy and natural way to compost thatch returning valuable nutrients to the soil. Keep monitoring the lawn for signs of insect damage. Fall army worms, chinch bugs, mole crickets, sod webworms, and grubs are still active.
To keep the cool season weeds from taking over the lawn, apply a pre-emergent herbicide when the night time temperatures are 55-60 degrees for 4 to 5 days. From now until May, the lawn is susceptible to fungal diseases like brown patch that may occur with temperatures falling below 80 degrees. Apply Fertilome Systemic Fungicide to cure the fungus or prevent it.
Pick up a copy of our
Lawn Maintenance Schedule or request one to be e-mailed to you. It's a great tool for the do-it-yourself homeowner for use in keeping their lawn healthy and weed free.
Plant and fertilize perennials and annuals in the fall. Slow release fertilizers work best as they provide continual feeding for 8 weeks. Fertilize trees, shrubs, and palms. For most trees and shrubs, use a balanced fertilizer with the analysis 6-6-6 or 10-10-10. Certain shrubs like azaleas, gardenias, and indian hawthorns prefer acidic fertilizer specifically formulated for them. Correct palm and cycad deficiencies with either palm tree spikes or granular food. These products contain magnesium, iron, sulfur, and other essential nutrients. Citrus trees should be fertilized in October or November using a "Citrus Special" type fertilizer at the rate of 1lb. per year of tree age (maximum 10 lbs.). Fertilize an area twice the diameter of the tree canopy. This should be the final pruning for any cold sensitive landscape plants. Weeds in the garden can be.
Late September is the time to plant cold hardy fall and winter vegetables. We have both seeds and live plants available at the nursery. Fertilize the garden 2-3 times during the growing season applying 1-2 lbs. of 6-6-6 or similar fertilizer per 100 feet. Monitor the garden and watch for caterpillars feeding. Spray with Bacillus Thuringiensis (Thuricide) if found. controlled by hand weeding then applying a pre-emergent herbicide every 6-8 weeks.
Spray two to three times at seven-day intervals until the pests are eliminated. If you are unsure of the pest, we invite you to bring a leaf or branch from your plant to the nursery and we can identify the insect and suggest the correct product. Common pests and their appropriate insecticides include:
Late September is the time to plant cold hardy fall and winter vegetables. We have both seeds and live plants available at the nursery. Fertilize the garden 2-3 times during the growing season applying 1-2 lbs. of 6-6-6 or similar fertilizer per 100 feet. Monitor the garden and watch for caterpillars feeding. Spray with Bacillus Thuringiensis (Thuricide) if found.
Annuals and perennials that do well this time of year include alyssum, celosia, dianthus, dusty miller, impatiens, lobelia, marigolds, petunia, snapdragon, vinca, verbena, and begonias. Vegetables include beans, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries. Herbs include basil, chives, lavender, mint, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.
With every season Green Thumb Nursery has a variety of annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, vegetables, and herbs. Check out the nursery page for information on plants that are usually available here at the nursery. Stop in to see us and add some new color and variety to your landscaping.