October

Keep watering your evergreens till the ground freezes. Evergreens can dry out during the winter. WILT STOP by Bonide is a natural nontoxic product derived from the resin of pine trees. WILT STOP forms a soft, clear, flexible film on treated plants. This film protects plants from drying out, drought, wind burn, sun scald, winter kill, transplant shock, salt damage, while at the same time allowing them to grow naturally. Apply before the first heavy frost. WILT STOP can be used on Boxwoods, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and other winter sensitive plants.

Apply a quality lawn fertilizer. Espoma Lawn Food (in the red bag) rich in natural organics is perfect for your fall feeding, environmentally freindly, and won’t burn your lawn. This long lasting fertilizer contains slow release nitrogen safe for re-seeding in the fall.

Do a thorough clean up of your veggie garden. Discard; do not compost any plant materials with disease or insect problems. Apply 2-3 inches of compost. Evaluate your veggie gardens production this summer. Stop in and we'll be happy to recommend amendments to improve your soil. Remember healthy soil produces healthy plants.

Remove the petals from your rose bushes, but leave the rose hips on. Keep watering your roses until the second hard frost. If the rose bush has a black spot, you must pick off all the infected leaves and clean up any on the ground. With the change in the weather POWDERY MILDEW is likely to appear so continue your fungicide spraying program. Around Halloween water your roses in 'EXTRA GOOD'. The following day tie the canes together so they will not whip around during winter winds, this will prevent the roots from loosening. Do not cut most rose bushes down, but if the canes of your shrub roses are 10' to 12' cut them down to about 5'. After two good frosts, cover the crowns with 12" of top soil.