Breaking Ground

“Proud Mari” marigolds have double flowers in gold, yellow and, as seen here, orange.
“Proud Mari” marigolds have double flowers in gold, yellow and, as seen here, orange.

SEPTEMBER

August started out bone dry but by midmonth we were floating. Some counties got more than 10 inches of rain in a day or two.

Who knows what fall and winter will be like, but we are heading into fall in better shape than expected. Lawns have greened up again, plants are perking up and vegetable gardens are still producing.

September usually brings a first taste of fall-like weather, but overall we typically remain hot and dry. Last year, a dry spell began in September. Pay attention to the weather and be prepared to water as needed.

• Keep in mind that spring-blooming plants are finishing up setting blooms for next year, and we want them healthy and happy as they head into winter.

• Vegetable gardens are a mixed bag this season. Some gardeners are still harvesting while other gardens have played out. If your garden is still good, keep harvesting and gradually begin to fill in the blanks with fall vegetables. If your garden is a lost cause, practice good sanitation and clean it up; then begin to replant for fall.

• Many gardeners are growing edibles year-round with limited winter protection, including high tunnels or just moderate frost protection. We should see vegetable transplants arriving at local outlets soon. If you find some new tomato plants, they also can bear until a killing frost.

• You can seed carrots, lettuce, spinach, kale and other greens now. Mulch any new plantings and be prepared to water.

• Recent rains, following dry conditions, have caused diseases on some ornamentals. Leaf spot diseases and mildew have been a common problem late in the season. I doubt you will find many hydrangeas without a spot here and there, or peonies that aren't dying back, or spot-free dogwood leaves. Don't worry -- and don't start a spray program this late in the season. For now, rake up fallen, damaged leaves; cut back perennials as they die back; water if dry, and mulch.

• Perennials that have started dying back are heading into dormancy and will return next spring. That includes peonies, lilies and bleeding hearts.

• Trees and shrubs with damaged foliage should be monitored for leaf fall. Once that begins, rake and clean up so you can start fresh next spring.

• Don't prune trees and shrubs, especially spring bloomers, as they have already set their flower buds for next spring.

• The rain helped our lawns green back up, but it helped the weeds grow as well. For some reason, hot, dry conditions don't seem to hurt our weed crop as they do desirable plants. In the lawn, it is too late for herbicides, but mowing can prevent seed set. In flower beds and vegetable gardens, attack weeds with a good sharp hoe. If allowed to mature unchecked, they leave behind seeds that will cause problems for years to come.

• Summer annuals and flowering tropical plants could need a bit of fertilizer to go on blooming until frost. All the rains we had eased our watering duties, but they leached nutrition from the soil, particularly in containers. Fertilization will keep them blooming better. If your summer annuals haven't survived, it is a bit too early to plant pansies and violas, but you can plant marigolds, ornamental peppers and begin planting ornamental (and edible) kale, mustard and cabbage.

• We are beginning to see good plumes on ornamental grasses.

• Annuals aren't the only way to add flower color. Summer perennials are still going strong with Echinacea, rudbeckia and gaillardia, but to add to the mix, the fall perennials are starting a show with Chelone (turtlehead), Tricyrtis (toad lilies) and Japanese anemones, for the shade, and goldenrod, asters and salvias for the sun.

• Chrysanthemums will soon be available at garden centers. While they are perennials, many gardeners do grow them as annuals. Pumpkins and gourds are also popping up, and spring-blooming bulbs for fall planting are beginning to make an appearance. You can buy your bulbs now, but let it cool off a bit before planting. Large, firm bulbs will give you the best display next spring. If you have room in your refrigerator you can chill the bulbs before planting, but that isn't a requirement.

MARIGOLDS

Marigolds have been among the common annuals grown in Southern gardens since the early 19th century.

They have been credited with repelling insects, animals and nematodes, but they also attract spider mites in late spring and early summer. Spider mites do not seem to be a problem in the late summer or fall marigold garden.

Grown easily from seed, marigolds can be in bloom within a relatively short time after planting and so should not be overlooked as a late summer/fall annual. You also can find blooming plants to transplant now into your garden. While they are not winter hardy, they will bloom until a killing frost, which usually doesn't occur until mid- to late November or later.

Many gardeners think all marigolds are yellow or orange, but there are interesting combinations of colors. Marigold flowers can be single, semi-double or double, in colors ranging from white or yellow to orange, gold and red with some striped blooms in the mix.

Shorter varieties are called French marigolds (Tagetes patula), while large flowered, tall marigolds are called African marigolds (Tagetes erecta). In spite of the common names, neither is native to France or Africa: Marigolds came from Mexico.

Marigolds have a strong scent in their flowers and foliage, which some people find offensive. But the odor is seen as a deterrent to animals.

Marigolds thrive in full sun. Deadhead them as they finish blooming to keep more blooms coming. With their range of colors, they blend in beautifully with a fall garden.

Janet B. Carson is a horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

photo

Special to the Democrat-Gazette/JANET B. CARSON

Single flower marigolds were among the first flowers cultivated by Southern gardeners.

HomeStyle on 09/01/2018

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