THE VEGGIE GARDEN

Lettuce and spinach plants for the fall veggie garden.

It’s harvest time if you have a vegetable garden! Keep those summer vegetables picked, and they will continue to produce over a long period. Canning and freezing a bountiful crop will reward you throughout the year. It can be a big job, but its so worth the effort! As the season progresses, our nice fall weather usually provides great conditions for putting in a cool season garden with it’s own assortment of veggies- kale, lettuces, peas, broccoli, onions, radishes, beets, and carrots.

HOW TO HANDLE HOT AND DRY

Rodales drip irrigation – http://tinyurl.com/gtjnnch

Summer in central Virginia can be tough on the landscape. Potential hot/ dry spells can reek  havoc, especially on plantings added in the previous spring. Installing a soaker hose or adding drip irrigation puts the water right where it’s needed – on the roots, not the foliage. This technique not only prevents disease, it also conserves water. For a relatively inexpensive solution, a simple timer and basic arrangement of hoses can take care of the watering for you. Use a probe such as a screwdriver to test the soil saturation after watering. Without checking, its hard to tell just how much water has actually been distributed. The probe will easily go into the ground to the level that the water has absorbed. For most plantings, that depth should be four inches or so.

FALL IS FOR PLANTING

Fall is absolutely the best time for adding trees and shrubs to your landscape design. Planning now will give you a head start and prevent what I call “the kid in the candy store syndrome” experience at the garden center. I always encourage creating a master plan. That way you know what your shopping for and where to plant it.

YES VIRGINIA, IT’S TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE LAWN

August may seem a bit early to be thinking about your lawn, but it can almost be behind the curve depending on the preparation needed. If weeds are an issue, treat your lawn now, being especially careful to choose a product specifically for that purpose. Once will probably not do the job. Nature wants to live, so those weeds will be back if not treated properly. If wire grass is a problem, it is tenacious and hard to eradicate because it spreads by underground runners. Because of the runners, don’t pull wire grass unless you want it to spread faster. If you really want it to be gone, you may want to consult a professional. Or you could even decide you like it. Preposterous? I’ll explain in my next posts.

My fine fescue lawn and tumbled glass faux pond. A beautiful lawn is definitely work, but can be lovely for small areas and provide nice visual relief.

More info on cool season veggies…

Cool season veggies… get ’em in the ground!