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Gardening Tips

Here's a growing trove of tips for gardening in northern Nevada. We'll add to them as we go along. If you have a tip of your own you'd like to share, email us!

Why Plant in the Fall?

You've heard it many times before--fall is one of the best, if not THE best, time to plant. But why? What's so special about fall? Even though the air temperature is cooling down, the ground is still warm. Plant roots are more likely to grow and settle into the warm fall soil than the cool spring soil. In our area, the winds usually slow down in the fall and that, combined with the drop in air temperature, means that plants transpire (lose water) at a decreased rate. In the fall, plants have generally stopped putting out new top growth and begun to harden off for the coming dormant season (winter). Because of all these factors, the tree or shrub that is planted in the fall tends to be considerably less stressed than one planted in the summer or even spring.

Fall Garden Clean Up

One of the many things I truly appreciate about living in Northern Nevada is the change of seasons. Although I love to garden, I look forward to putting things to bed for the winter and giving myself a much-needed rest. As we advance into another fall, we are faced with all of the tasks that go with keeping the garden and landscape healthy. The list of chores is lengthy, but if practiced, the rewards reaped next growing season will make it all worthwhile.

Early fall is the perfect time to seed a lawn or lay sod and fertilize.
Plant bulbs for spring bloom before the first hard freeze in soil prepared with Kellogg's Nitrohumus and add organic fertilizer.
Clean up the garden and compost all waste (except tomato plants which can harbor disease).
Cut back flowering perennials and plant new ones for spring and summer color.
Now is a great time to sow wildflower seeds.
Protect young trees from sunburn by applying a coat of white latex paint on the trunk.
Flush irrigation systems to avoid mineral build-up and cracked tubing.
Harvest fruits and vegetables and store them indoors at about 40 degrees.
Call Kim, our Gardening Division manager, for a free gardening estimate. Visit our nursery and let us help you with your fall garden preparation. We have an assortment of fertilizers, wildflower seeds, soil amendments and a good selection of plant material. Consider us your neighborhood nursery.

Taking Care of Your Investment in Trees

You've taken the time to choose a healthy plant that grows in our climate. You've dug the perfect hole -- not too deep, 3-5 times as wide as the root ball, and back-filled with native soil and some soil amendments, i.e., Kellogg's Gromulch. You have staked your new addition correctly and watered it in thoroughly, letting the soil settle in around its roots. The hard work may seem to be over, but caring for your investment in trees takes some additional work as well as careful thought.

Let's say in a couple of years you decide to add a berm to plant some wildflowers next to your tree. Did you know that roots can suffocate and die if the availability of oxygen is noticeably altered?

The number one killer of trees in the U.S. is construction damage. Some other killers in the top ten are bark damage, poor plant selection, improper pruning, poor planting technique, soil compaction and misuse of herbicides. A tree is a living organism that requires and deserves some special considerations. Here are some simple precautions that can be taken to insure healthy, happy trees:

Keep grass away from the tree by proper mulching so that lawn mower and trimmer damage is less likely.
Don't cover the tree roots with solid paving or a grade change, instead, maintain the same ground level and use materials that allow air and water through.
Avoid using herbicides and weed killing lawn fertilizers in the plant's root zone. Use sand or gravel instead of ice-melting chemicals or salt for walkways near trees.
When construction occurs on a site with established trees, avoid storing heavy equipment or materials under the canopy. When trenching is required, try to keep it outside the tree's drip line.
Learn proper pruning techniques or have a professional do the job for you. Improper pruning can encourage weak growth, cause uneven form or invite pathogens to invade the plant.
Do not over water, over fertilize or over prune your trees.

Ornamental grasses? March is a good month to cut back before new growth begins. It's tough to trim because they're still so ornamental looking. But don't worry, they'll bounce right back. Save some cuttings to decorate in the home. When you're ready, cut to about 10 inches above the ground.

Ddetermine if the ground is ready to work, you can actually do damage to your soil if it's too wet. If your soil stays very wet for long periods, clumping together into hard rocks, consider amending the soil or raised beds. Poor drainage can kill many perennials and bulbs. In the vegetable garden do not cultivate wet soggy soil. Wait until it dries out a little. If in doubt, do the ball test: take a handful of soil and make a ball in your fist. If the ball stays together, the soil is still too wet. If the ball falls apart (crumbles), go ahead and cultivate.

Mulching your plants is a good idea, but keep the mulch away from the stems or trunks of the plants. The same bacteria and fungi that slowly break down mulch can also break down a plant's bark.

When pruning hedges, shape them in a slight "A" shape, with the hedge narrower at the top and wider at the bottom. This allows light to reach the lower foliage.

New, marble-sized potatoes can be harvested from your potato patch as soon as the first flowers appear. Just dig in and steal a few. They're delicious and not found in the supermarket. To harvest larger storage potatoes, wait until the vines have died back at the end of the season.

Rotate your vegetable crops for best results. Click Here!

Copyright 2002 by Interpretive Gardens, Incorporated
7777 White Fir Street
Reno, Nevada 89523-8930
Voice: (775) 747-2222 -- Fax: (775) 747-1227
Email:staff@interpretivegardens.com