Introduction to Organic Lawns & Yards

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Pumpkin Brook Organic Gardening, Inc.Priscilla Hutt Williams35 Turner Road, Townsend, Massachusetts 01469(TEL) 978-597-3005 (FAX) 772-264-7886phw@seedlingspecialist.com

In This Issue

Fall Soil Amending & Fertilizing

Time for Making Changes

7 Great Plants for Fall Color

Order Bulbs Now

August Is the Time For...

NOFA has a new publicationentitled

"Introduction to Organic Lawns and Yards Plus

a Checklist for an Eco-Friendly Property"

that has just been released. We have some available to send to our clients. We would be happy to send one to you or

you may download it now byclicking here. If you prefer us

to send you one, please e-mail Priscilla.

Greetings,

As fall draws closer, I'm beginning to plan various projectsappropriate to the coming season. At the top of my list is soilamending and fertilizing. We do this in the fall since root growthof woody plants is vigorous and extensive as the soil temperaturecools. The plants are building energy reserves for next year'sleaves, flowers, fruit and shoots, so this is the time to amend andfertilize. Please read my article below.

Fall Soil Amending and FertilizingWhat's the Difference?

Soil amending happens whenwe discover an imbalance innutrients. This has shownitself to us all season (and toyou) in the form of off-colorleaves, insect or diseasepressure, powdery mildew, orfailure to bloom in abundance. Sure enough, a soil test willshow too much phosphorus,for example, and not enough ofthe other key nutrients likecalcium, potassium,magnesium and sulfur tobalance it. Micronutrients may also be lacking. Thus our fallamending program will address these issues on a case-by-casebasis, with soil testing in your garden as the basis for action. Weincorporate the amendments (such as rock powders and lime) intocompost and then topdress your plants with the mixture, followingthe principles of Nutrient Dense Gardening. Fertilizing is an adjunct to balanced soil, providing nitrogen andother nutrients in a form easily available to plants. Organicfertilizers feed slowly, breaking down over a period of months toboost long-term fertility of both the plants and the organisms thatmaintain soil health. We usually use Humates on woody plants inthe fall, a slow-releasing blend of a coal-like material mined froman ancient source in New Mexico. Anything planted within thepast five years responds well to an application of Humates. Wealso use special blended organic fertilizers such as Bulb Mix forspring blooming bulbs, Pro-Holly for broadleaf evergreens, andPro-Mix when planting perennials.

A well placed specimentree can make a big

difference

Read more about soil biology in an article by the Rodale Institute.Please click on this link.

Seven Great Plants for Fall Color

Achillea millefolium 'Paprika'

If we tested your soil and amended in 2009 or 2010, we will soonbe pulling new soil samples to see how the nutrient balancing iscoming along. This is a multi-year process! We'll then plan oursoil amending according to the test results. For those who hadamending completed in Spring 2011, we'll wait until next springfor the retesting. Our soil tests are $40 each and provide a wealth of usefulinformation to boost the performance of plants in your garden. We especially encourage vegetable gardeners to test soil this falland amend in November, as these heavy-feeding crops deplete thesoil annually. Rock powders will break down slowly over winter,providing ready-made enriched soil for spring planting. For those utilizing our compost tea program, we believe that thegranular amending and fertilizing programs are a naturalcomplement to the foliar and deep root feeding provided duringthe warmer months of May-October. A balanced soil will beteeming with microbial life, enabling the plants to be moreproductive, resilient against weather extremes, and resistant topests and diseases. Please contact me for more information on amending andfertilizing.

Time for Making Changes to Your GardenThe great thing about late summer is that you can see your gardenwhen plants are at their full size. In the spring when perennialsare still developing, one can sometimes get an inaccurate sense ofthe necessary spacing betweenplants. Now is the time when younotice just how big that Shasta daisyplant is or how your once compactcluster of daylilies have taken overthe garden. Ask yourself if there are plants inplaces that don't make sense (ex:taller plants at the front of the border,untidy plants in highly visible spots,shade loving plants in a sunnylocation etc.) What about colorscheme? Are there new colors thatyou would like to see? Are someplants taking up too much real estatewithout giving you the kind of showyou are looking for? Or perhapsthere is too much open space thatneeds filling up?Sometimes the solution can be as simple as planting a well placedspecimen shrub or tree in a highly visible spot. We are beginning several fall plantings in late Augustthis year with more following inSeptember and October. Fall is a great

E-mail Steph for a walk-through

Achillea millefolium'Terra Cotta'

Hamamelis virginiana

Aconitum carmichaelii'Arendsii'

Rudbeckia fulgida

time for planting, dividing andtransplanting. We can take advantage ofmore frequent rainfall, cooler temperaturesand less humidity to assist in goodestablishment. If you know that you are not crazy aboutcertain aspects of your garden but can'tquite put your finger on what's off,Priscilla, Steph or Julie can come out anddo a walk-through with you around yourproperty to help you consider different design options. ContactPriscilla today so we can schedule a time.

Seven Great Plants for Fall ColorThe fall is a time when garden beds from one house to anothercan sometimes look the same. Some people think that mums,sedums and invasive burning bush are the only options for fallcolor but there are many other interesting options. Here are sevenof our favorites for fall. Achillea millefolium "Paprika' and 'Terra Cotta' or YarrowThese perennials have a soft fernlike appearance with brightflower heads arranged in large compact clusters at the top of eachstem. They make great cut flowers too and are a nice transitionfrom summer into fall. Very tolerant of lean soils. Hamamelis virginiana or American Witch Hazel This native is a fall bloomer unlike its foreign cousin whichblooms in early spring. It can usually grow 10-15 ft tall andproduces wrinkly fragrant yellow flowers that hold on for a whileafter the leaves fall. The leaves turn bright yellow in the fall. Theextract of leaves, twigs and bark has astringent properties and canbe used in tinctures and lotions. Aconitum carmichaelii 'Arendsii' or MonkshoodThis striking blue violet flower does well in partly shaded woodedand damp but well draining areas. It can grow 3-4 ft tall and sowould do well in the back of a garden bed. This one doesn't needstaking due to its strong stems. Since all parts are poisonous, siteaway from vegetable gardens or play areas. It's a breathtakinglybeautiful shade of blue purple that will really make your gardenpop. Rudbeckia fulgida or Black-eyed SusanThis is the perennial that keeps on giving. It has an incrediblebloom time with repeat blooms from July to October. Itsdaisylike flowers make great cut flowers. It also is a larval hostand nectar source for butterflies, and birds love the ripe seeds, soit's sure to give you a show in many ways. Symphyotrichum novae-angliae or New England AsterWith showy numerous flowers on stems ranging in height from 3-6 ft, this is truly a classic fall beauty. Flower color can range fromlavender to purple to white and pink. The yellow center of the

Allium

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Vaccinium corymbosum

Nyssa sylvatica

flower makes a beautiful contrast atop the hairy and abundantstems. It prefers full sun and moist rich soil. Vaccinium corymbosum or Highbush Blueberry This shrub is a multi-functional autumn winner. It works as agreat alternative to the invasive burning bush with its bright redautumn foliage. The berries are a favorite of songbirds, gamebirds, small mammals and of course people. It prefers acidic soiland can reach heights of 6-12 ft. Nyssa sylvatica or Black Gum or Tupelo Another great alternative to burning bush, this tree displaysbrilliant fall color with its bright red, orange, yellow and purpleleaves. It has distinctively horizontal spreading branches and aconical habit. It does well in moist soils, and birds and mammalsare attracted to its small, juicy fruit.

Order Bulbs Now - Next Spring, WOW!Believe it or not, it's time to put in your bulb orders! I aim tosubmit my orders by September 10th before certain bulbs are soldout. Planting spring flowering bulbs can be a wonderful way to addsome color to your garden when it needs it the most in early spring. When the world seems gray and cold, there is nothing like bulbs tousher in the joy of spring and the hope for warmer days. For inspiration, visit www.springdisplays.com. There is aninteractive feature where you can create a list of yourfavorites. When you arefinished, click on the myfavorites tab and either printand mail your list or send thelist by e-mail to Priscilla. The password is shovel. Daffodils will naturalize andmultiply over time, whiletulips may give you abeautiful show for one totwo years. You may want toconsider some of the lesserknown but beautiful bulbssuch as species tulips,chionodoxas or alliums to make your garden unique. Here are a few tips we like to consider when planting bulbs:

Location. Most bulbs prefer 6 hours of full sun, even afterthe trees have leafedout. Somewoodland bulbs likeErythronium (dogtooth violet) prefera more woodedshady site.

Root Development.

People's Choice Award Winner

Erythronium

Spring Bulb Mix

Lisa Mattei 'People'sChoice' Winner

Congratulations again to Lisa Mattei,who won the 'People's Choice' awardfor her native container planting ondisplay at Garden in the Woodsthrough August 31st. There's stilltime to see it!

While Lisa wasbusy workingfor PBOG, thecity ofMarlboroughgave her anaward for herbeautiful homegarden!

Quick LinksTo UnsubscribePBOG WebsiteClick here to respond

It is important toallow enough timefor root growth. Although you can plant bulbs until the ground freezes, it isbest to plant between mid-October and mid-November toallow sufficient time for root development.

Spacing. Bulbs look best when planted in clusters or drifts. This can be accomplished by digging a hole and plantingmultiple bulbs in the hole so that they aren't touching or bysprinkling gently on the ground and planting them wherethey land.

Amendments. We fill each hole with compost and anorganic bulbfertilizer that willpromote root andflower development.

Pest Resistance. Ifyou are concernedabout rodents gettingto your bulbs, wecan dip them in ahighly concentratedmixture of sulfur,garlic and hot pepper. Better yet, plant members of the lilyfamily, as rodents avoid these. Daffodils, alliums, andhyacinths are long lasting in the landscape.

If you would like assistance deciding which bulbs are best for yourgarden, or would like help with the planting, please contact Priscillasoon.

August Is the Time For..... Deadheading and shearing perennials after bloom, some willhave another round of bloom soonKeeping up with weedingSnipping off spent flowers of annuals and watering withdiluted fish fertilizerTopping off containers with worm castings to replenishnutrients lost through wateringFinishing summer pruning of spring blooming trees andshrubsDividing bearded irisPlanning new additions to the garden for fall plantingOrdering spring blooming bulbsOverseeding bare patches in lawn after topdressing withcompost, late in monthTreating grub-infested patches of lawn with Milky Spore orbeneficial nematodes while the grub exoskeleton is soft andvulnerable to attack, best done between periods of rainWatering any shrubs and trees planted within the past fiveyears to help pull through periods of high temperatures -deeply watering is best, an inch of water per week minimumPlanting fall vegetable crops such as lettuce, spinach, chard,

kale

I hope you take some time to think about all the wonderful optionsto change your landscape this fall and make it more enjoyable foryou and your family. We look forward to helping you with theprocess. Sincerely,Priscilla

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Pumpkin Brook Organic Gardening | 35 Turner Road | Townsend | MA | 01469