"Clear out exhausted annuals," this month, suggested famed English cartoonist Norman Thelwell. Some, indeed, are certainly ready for that great composter in the sky. Most have a good month or more to go, thanks to no little part around here to global warming. A killing frost is unlikely to come before Thanksgiving, indeed perhaps prior even until Halloween.
And because of that, the soil will not start to freeze until at least December. This leaves ample time for perennials to be dug up, their beds revamped, the plants divided and returned to flourish next season.
Take this opportunity to work granulated bone natural fertilizer into the root zone. This valuable source of phosphate percolates through the soil extremely slowly. Sprinkled on the surface it will take years to reach the root zone.
Most perennials require this treatment every three to five years. A very few however, such as peonies, dislike being disturbed. Pulled from their comfortable beds, they are likely to sulk for years before resuming blooming.
Diversion No. 1
A student has invented an "intelligent' plant pot that lights up when it needs water. Natalie King, 22, created the 'Tulip' pot as a project while at Brunel University in west London, England. While it is not commercially available yet she hopes it will interest an investor. According to the
Daily Mail, the pot lights up whenever the plant is in danger of getting too hot, too cold, too light, too dark or too dry.
Many a rose languishes, its bud union--the swelling at the base of the stems--at soil level. Foreign books, ditto rosarians' advice cannot be relied upon when it comes to Canadian climes. Where the winter is harsh--over most of our country--this bud union instead should be buried three inches deep. Fear not if your roses presently remain thus unprotected. Despite every plant peddler pushing roses in spring, fall is the best time to plant--or replant. In fact, some knowledgeable specialists, such as Pickering Nurseries, prefer to sell at this time of year.
Another tip for the rose garden: at the end of September, cease to deadhead the bushes. Allowing the flowers to develop their 'hips' or seedpods sends the signal of an approaching winter. Meanwhile, pickup every dead leaf and petal. Dispose with the household garbage--the composter does not reach high enough temperatures to kill the spores of the despicable black spot disease, bane of all rose growers.
Diversion No. 2
The British black fly,
Simiclium posticatum, has been causing a surge in infected insect bites, reports media there. Also known as the Blandford fly after the location along Dorset's River Stour where it was first identified, it as largely a rural problem until recently. According to entomologists, the recent interest in ornamental water gardening has caused it to migrate into towns and cities. The female fly requires a blood meal to incubate her eggs, often obtained from a handy gardener. A natural control in Dorset was found to be
Bacillus thuringiensis israeliensis (Bti). The "superfly" as it has been dubbed is commemorated the Blandford Fly Ale, brewed by Hall & Woodham, 'family brewers.'
Michaelmas daisy hybrids commenced appearing at eager retailers at the end of August. Named after Michaelmas Day that honours the archangel St. Michael, 29
th September, they present magnificent blues for the fall garden. Unlike the hardy chrysanthemums sold alongside them, they are more likely to become permanent fixtures of the perennial garden. Lay off the colourful kale and cabbage just yet though--they require really good frosts to bring out the best of their colours.
Roasted watermelon seeds, a delicacy in some parts of Iran, were reported as having been removed at a clinic from the lungs of 96 children between 1961 and 1965 by Khalil Alavi, MD, in the
Archives of Otolaryngology. Being roasted, these fortunately could not germinate in their unfortunate victims.
Less fortunate was a young Russian man who had a fir tree growing in his lung, as reported in April 2009. Artyom Sidorkin, 28, a resident of the Urals region of Russia, was thought to have inhaled the seed that grew into a 2.5cm (2-inch) for tree. Surgeon Vladamir Kamashev, who operated on the man, said, "I thought I was hallucinating. I asked my assistant to have a look. 'Come and see this we've got a fir tree growing here.' He nodded in shock. I blinked three times as I was seeing things."
Nevertheless, the Brit-based Sky News, one of many reporting on the incident, noted that biologists were skeptical about a plant growing inside a human body. Strangely, the same skeptics remained silent when, a few weeks, American surgeons reported removing a sprouted pea seed from Ron Svend's left lung.
Diversion No. 3
The shelves of a U.K. supermarket are being stocked with grey squirrel meat. Despite claims from animal welfare group Viva accusing them of "wildlife massacre," Budgens supermarket reports "large interest" in the one-time staple of the national diet. An invasive species, grey squirrels were introduced into Britain from North America by rich landowners in the 18
th and 19
th centuries and are now regarded as a serious pest by many there (Sources:
Daily Mail,
The Daily Telegraph).
An ongoing chore is weeding. Best done early in the day when the plants are turgid and easily pulled out roots and all. Drop onto the deck, patio or driveway for the rest of the day to desiccate in the sun. Finally consign to the composter or municipal waste collection.
Some might regard the famous summer squash in the same light. "The first zucchini I ever saw," says author John Gould, "I killed it with a hoe." Tabatha Southey in
The Globe and Mail observed: "Zucchini is prolific. One zucchini plant can meet the needs of an entire bloc--accepting the fallacy that humans even have zucchini needs." A country gardener of our acquaintance used to drive into the city every day with bushel baskets of the beasts. On top were perched a few tomatoes, cukes and other comestibles. One accepted everything or nothing. She invariably drove back in an empty vehicle.
Nature's harvest will continue until the first heavy frosts cut it off. Novices to culturing veggies in Canada's all too fickle climate should avoid cutting off the flow too early. Over much of southern Ontario it will continue well into October, even for such cold-intolerant crops as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and, yes, zucchini. Some even flourish under cold: Brussels sprouts, parsnips, cabbages and leeks become sweeter and tastier after being hit by several hard frosts, thus explaining those tasteless travesties imported from California.
Diversion No. 4
A field test in Montana pitted dog against human in an effort to identify and eradicate spotted knapweed (
Centaurea stoebe), a highly invasive weed, reports business periodical
Landscape Trades. The dogs had an overall success rate of 81 per cent while the humans were successful 59 per cent of the time. The original report appeared in
Invasive Plant Science and Management.
September commences bulb-planting time and, a garden wisdom has it, an aggressive garden centre can make a trillium. Be that as it may, there are two good reasons to go shopping early for your bulbs. First, some of the most desirable are likely to sell out almost immediately they are presented for sale. Secondly many, especially smaller bulbs are prone to shrivel in storage and also require a period before the soil freezes in order to become well rooted. Even daffodil and narcissus will do better when planted at least by early next month. If you cannot find that perfect species or variety, check out that bulbsman of renown Dugald Cameron's catalog at
gardenimport.com. Oh yes--trilliums: the bulbs, technically rhizomes, can sometimes be found at discerning garden centres and safely planted at this time.
