Dial-a-Garden Message
for the Week of Monday, September 28, 2009
Susan Rose, Horticulture Education Specialist
Colorado State University Extension Tri River Area
Thank you for calling Dial-a-Garden. This message was recorded on Monday, September 28, 2009.
The evapotranspiration rate for the last week is just under an inch of water, for our cool season lawns such as bluegrass or tall fescue. One good soak should take care of it. If your irrigation water is going to be shut off soon, be sure that all your trees and shrubs receive a good soaking too.
Turf fungus diseases are still showing up at our offices. The most important control measure is to water at the correct time of day. Either the middle of the night or the middle of the day is fine, but avoid the hours between 6:00 and 10:00, both in the morning and evening. Water less frequently, but water deeply when you do water, to a depth of at least six or eight inches. Visit our website at www.westernslopeturf.org for additional suggestions.
Core aeration of the lawn area pulls up small plugs of thatch and soil, alleviating compaction and improving the oxygen level in the soil. This promotes root growth. Fall and spring are the best times to aerate. Many lawn care services can perform core aeration, or the equipment can be rented. The soil needs to be moist but not soggy for best results; give the lawn a good soaking a day or two before aerating.
The average frost dates for many of the communities around the Tri River Area may be found on our website at www.coopext.colostate.edu//TRA/PLANTS/climate.html or give us a call at 244-1836. Dates are included for both the first fall frost and the first killing frost (28 degrees F.) These are average dates however, not predictions. Many areas have already been hit with earlier-than-usual frosts.
When your vegetable garden is finished for the year, remove the plant debris and till up the beds. Tilling in the fall helps reduce any insect pest populations that overwinter in the soil, and removing old plant tissue may help to reduce disease problems next year. Compost or other organic matter can be worked in at the same time. Be cautious about adding manures, as these add salts to the soil and most vegetables have a very low tolerance for salts. Bring a sample of your soil or compost into the Extension office if you’d like to have them tested for salts; the test is free and can usually be done while you wait. We’ll need about a cupful that is relatively clean and dry.
Many insects and spiders reach an impressive size this time of year, and attract attention. They will sometimes enter homes in search of warmth. Spiders are a gardener’s friends, consuming the insects that consume the plants; relocate them out of doors if possible. Place a clear glass jar (clear so you can see it) over the spider and slide a piece of thin cardboard or stiff paper underneath it to transport it easily and safely. Most insects are not harmful but some can become a nuisance, especially when they come indoors; bring us a sample if you’d like some management advice.
Don’t forget the Master Gardeners’ Tree Auction and Plant Sale, coming up on Saturday, October 10 behind the Extension office on the Mesa County fairgrounds. The plant sale begins at 9:00 a.m., and the tree auction with auctioneer Buster Cattles begins promptly at 10:00. Proceeds support the Master Gardener Scholarship Program. You’ll find some great deals, and we invite you to look around and enjoy our four acres of gardens while you are here. Master Gardeners will be present to answer your plant questions.
Our Delta and Montrose offices don’t staff Master Gardeners regularly during the off season, but in our Mesa office we’re available year round. Give us a call at 244-1836 or stop by if you have questions on plant care, identification, watering, or soils, and we’ll do our best to help.
Thank you for calling Dial-a-Garden. This message will be updated next week; have a great week!