Our next meeting is on November 4th at the Old Trail Inn when we have our annual luncheon and auction. This is a fun event and if you want to join us just drop me a line or contact the organizers, Fran Varcoe and Anna Johnson.
It’s time now to take a last walk around the garden to see what bare spots you have and what you might want to plant. In my garden I have some Japanese barberry bushes. Because these plants are invasive I plan to dig them out next year and put in Summer wine bark which is a native plant, hardy to our area and deer resistant. Maybe you too have some plants that have become invasive, now is a good time to take a look and plan replacements. Check the invasive plant listings for your area. They can take over habitat areas to the detriment of native pollinators. Purple loosestrife is showing up all over our wetlands displacing native species and offering nothing in return. Kudzu in the south is a rampant nuisance literally overgrowing everything in its path. Japanese honeysuckles have been widely planted yet the American honeysuckle attracts insects that the Japanese variety does not. Look for native plants wherever possible.
When you are tidying up your garden for the winter consider that leaf litter and unmowed grass provides welcome shelter for insects. Maybe there’s an area at the edge of your property that you can leave unmowed and brush and rock piles provide winter shelter for all kinds of small animals, spiders and other insects.
Before you set out your bird feeders make sure they are clean; wash them out with a weak solution of bleach to get rid of potential harmful bacteria from old seed. Let them air dry for an hour to allow the chlorine to dissipate. Check throughout the winter to see that you don’t have any mold growing from old wet seed. Also remember if you are using sunflower seeds, use them away from any plantings as they give off a substance that is harmful to plants.
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If your soil is less than ideal, November is an excellent time to put down fertilizer. If you use organic fertilizers do read the label because many of these work best when the soil temperature is around 50 degrees F. You can lay down a synthetic fertilizer such as a 5-10-5. These numbers refer to nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. You need nitrogen (N) for the green stuff, phosphorus (P) for the blooms and fruits, and potassium (K) for the root structure. Putting down fertilizer now gives it time to reach down to the root level where it can be immediately taken up as the plants wake up in the spring. Now is also a very good time to get a soil test so you can see exactly what you need to do to get your soil into top shape for next year. Contact the Cooperative Extension Unit in Johnstown for instructions on how to take a soil sample for analysis. They can do a simple ph test or you can send the soil away for a more extensive testing.
Although I add lots or organic matter to my vegetable garden it is on the low end of the ph level so I have added lime. Lime takes several months before the ph values in the garden change. Lilacs like a higher ph and I added lime to both my lilac bushes to help them out.
You can still pop in a few more bulbs and those that you don’t manage to get in can always be potted up for indoor bloom.
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