FALL BRINGS CHANGE OF PACE 
By Kevin Starr

     Summer is over and fall has arrived.  In the garden and landscape, that usually means a little slower pace.  But there’s still plenty of chores to do.  Fall is the best time of the year to establish or renovate tall fescue lawns.  It’s also time to fertilize.  Remember to mow your fescue at about 3-3½ inches.

     This is a good time to clean up the landscape and to replenish the mulch if needed.

Tracy Jenkins, county horticulturist, and her crew did an outstanding job with these tasks around the courthouse and Citizens Center prior to the Apple Festival.  I heard several positive comments about how good the grounds looked around these buildings.  It’s always amazing how quality mulch and clean bed lines can improve the appearance of a landscape.

     We get a lot of questions about pruning.  Pruning invigorates plants.  At this time of the year, we want plants to slow down and begin the process of hardening off before cold weather comes.  So while it’s fine to do some light pruning on a shrub or cut off that aggravating low-hanging limb on a tree, don’t do a heavy renovation type of pruning now.  Don’t fertilize woody ornamental plants at this time.

    If you have a fall vegetable garden, you will need to stay on top of pest control.  Cabbage, collards, and their relatives are highly prized by certain caterpillars. Fortunately, these insects can be easily controlled.  As weather permits, it’s also a good time to start cleaning up the garden.  You may want to start a compost pile.  But don’t put plants  infested with pests or weeds loaded with mature seeds into the pile.  Soon, many folks will have plenty of leaves to add to their compost.  Good leaf compost is a great addition to the clay soil found in most gardens.

     Before it gets cold, you’ll want to control the common Bermuda grass that is starting to creep into your garden and landscape beds.  Glyphosate products (Roundup and various other brands) are effective at doing this.  The spray must be applied before the Bermuda grass goes dormant in order to be effective.   Remember to keep the spray away from the desirable plants. 

     If you have questions, please call Cooperative Extension at 704-736-8452.

(The use of brand names does not imply endorsement by the NC Cooperative Extension Service or discrimination against similar products not mentioned.)