October to do list

1.Plant spring flowering bulbs such as Hyacinths, Allium, Snowflakes, Daffodils,jonquils, Narcissus, Rain Lilies, Dutch Iris, Ranunculus, Anemones, Grape Hyacinth, Amaryllis and others.

2. Dig and store Caladium tubers. Store in dry peat or in perlite packed in boxes so that roots do not touch each other. Store in an area where the temperature will not go below 55 degrees to prevent spoilage.

3. Scale insects on broad leafed evergreens such as Camellia, Gardenia, Holly, and Eunoymus can be effectively controlled by spraying with dormant oil, Do not use oil spray if temperature goes above 80 degrees.

4. Purchase started plants of pansies, snapdragons, dianthus, flowering kale, and flowering cabbage for attractive winter and spring color.

5. Check for aphids and caterpillars on fall flowers and leafy vegetables.

6. Clean, sharpen all hand tools and cover all metal parts with a light coat of oil to prevent rust before storing for the winter. A bucket of dry sand plus a cup or two or oil makes an excellent way to clean those yeard tools.

7. Begin a new compost pile using the abundant fall leaves.

8. A final application of fertilizer can be appplied to your lawn early this month if you failed to fertilize in September.

9. Sow ryegrass for a winter green lawn or to prevent erosion of bare soil. Use 8 -10 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet.

Fall Color

Some of the many Fall Color pages I have found.

Where Do Leaves Get Their Autumn Colors Autumn in the Northeast and Midwest can be a spectacular season of bright blue skies, cool temperatures, and brilliant leaf color.

From the Environmental Education for Kids Why do Leaves Change Color Leaf color comes from pigments. Pigments are natural substances produced by leaf cells. The three pigments that color leaves are:

The USDA Forest Service lists fall foliage information for all National Forest locations. This site also has the answer to "Why do leaves change color?"

Fall Color Cams WeatherMatrix

Autumn Foliage Changes Late September marks the start of autumn and the beginning of color changes in deciduous leaves. This Harvard Forest site explores the topic thoroughly, providing documentation on intensely colored leaves. Photo galleries of leaves and plants that undergo color change are shown, as well as the science behind the color change. Static and time lapse images of New England landscapes display the progression, which is just at its start there.

Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall? From Science Made Simple.  Explanations appropriate for several grade levels (and teacher, too!).  Hands-on activities.  Word
scramble. Nice illustrations.

Why Leaves Change Color This one page explanation introduces the biological basis for why leaves turn color and fall in the autumn, from pigmentation changes, to other chemical changes, to the conditions for the best display of colors. Designed for K-12 students, but contains the basics also for beginning undergraduate students. Site by the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Changing Color Explains in detail what occurs in the leaves.

Chemistry of Autumn Colors Learn about the phenomenon from a scientific perspective.

Leaf Coloration Discussion of pigments and a listing of landscape plants which can be counted on to provide good fall color.

Autumn Colors How Leaves Change Color The "Indian summer" days of autumn, when the days are clear and sunny and the nights cool and crisp, provide an almost irresistible lure to those who enjoy the outdoors.

How does autumn color happen? leaf 1 For years, scientists have worked to understand the changes that happen to trees and shrubs in the autumn.

Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall? Includes projects to do with leaves, from the Curious Kids Science Newsletter.

Why Do Leaves Change Colors? Includes a list of which trees' leaves turn which color, and a method for collecting and preserving leaves.

Why Leaves Change Color: The Splendor of Autumn Discuses the chemical changes that take place within leaves.

Why Leaves Change Colors

September's To Do List

1. Make your selections of spring flowering bulbs as soon as they become available. Don't wait for the close-out bargains, as these are usually dried out and lack the necessary chilling needed for good flower production. Store bulbs in a cool place until ready to plant, preferably about 40 degrees. The refrigerator is an excellent place.

2. Prepare beds for planting springs bulbs so they are ready when you need them.

3. Begin to groom pot plants that have been outdoors this summer. Repot or cut back overgrown plants, groom and fertilizer before brining them inside.

4. Continue insect and disease control sprays on roses if maximum beauty and blooms are desired.

5. Time to plant or to divide and transplant daylilies, bearded iris, Shasta daisies, violets, etc.

6. September marks the beginning of the brown patch season on St. Augustine lawns. Apply PCNB (Terraclor) to those areas of the lawn with past history of brown patch. Also watch other lawn areas and apply control at the first sign of disease occurrence.

7. There is still time to sow Bermuda grass seed and get it established before cold weather. Broadcast one pound of seed per 600 sq ft for best coverage.

8. Fertilize the lawn this month with a fertilizer containing a Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium ration of 3-1-2.

9. Fall flowering annuals and perennials still require plenty of moisture if the flowers are to be attractive. Don't be fooled by the cool night and moderate day temperatures.

10. Clean established garden beds and replenish mulch materials where needed. Remove faded annuals and cut back perennials that have finished flowering.

11. Time to plant cool season vegetables including: Cabbage, cauliflower, onions, spinach, greens, and turnips. Quick maturing crops, such as radishes and lettuce, can be planted. Too late for tomatoes, peppers, and squash.

12. Save major pruning jobs for mid-winter.

13.Bluebonnet and other wildflower seeds can be planted this month.

Roses For Every Landscape

If you have put off planting roses because you either think they are too much trouble or you don't care for the look of a formal rose garden, then I have some great news for you. Roses are for everyone, everywhere.

There are many great hybrid teas that will produce great cut flowers. However they tend to be among the more high maintenance roses. If you want this type of rose, look for varieties that boast a little disease resistance.

Shrub Roses
My personal favorites are the shrub roses. They do double duty as both great landscape plants and blooming roses. So even when they aren't in bloom, they are attractive in the landscape. Breeders have begun to release a lot of wonderful new shrub roses. Many have excellent disease resistance -- a key trait if you want a low-maintenance rose. Personally I can think of many better things to do on a Saturday morning than mix and spray pesticides, even organic ones!

Climbers
Climbing roses are underutilized in most landscapes. That is too bad because they offer such versatile beauty and bring a vertical element into the garden. Vigorous types are excellent on an arbor or trained along a fence. Some work well trained to a post or pillar. Plant one to cover an arched entryway or train one to a brick or rock wall.

Miniatures
Miniature roses make attractive additions to ornamental beds. They are well adapted to large containers, which means even an apartment dweller can grow roses. Some roses, while not miniatures, are very small statured and do well in a very large container.

Growing Tips
Do a little investigating before you buy a rose. There are many wonderful varieties to choose from with various bloom forms, colors, scents, and degrees of disease resistance. Then take care to provide a home for your new rose where it can thrive.

Give roses lots of sun ... the more the better. If you plant them in a semi-shady spot, they will grow but may not bloom well.

Prepare the soil well and keep it moist. Roses like a soil that is well drained and has lots of compost added. I like to use a "chunky" compost made from bark because it tends to hold up well for a long time. While roses detest poor drainage, they need some dependable soil moisture to perform their best.

Fertilize regularly. Keep the roses growing by feeding them every month or two from spring through late summer. This is especially important for types that repeat bloom throughout the year.

Control pests, diseases, and weeds. If you choose a resistant variety, this will be an easy job. If pests or diseases are allowed to get out of hand, they will weaken the plants and shut down the bloom show. Weeds rob plants of moisture and nutrients. Mulching is the best way to prevent most weed problems.

So don't delay. Fall is the best season to plant roses in the south. Winter also is a good time. With a rose for every landscape, you don't want to miss out on another season of beautiful blooms!

Google Insights for Search

Google has added a new Search called Insights for Search. A service that is like Google Trends, you can put in any keyword and Google Insights gives you
1. Interest over time
2. 2 different graphs,
3. search terms related to the term,
4. regional interest for the term,
the four above is the search activity around that term around the world.

I have done a search for Gardening
Here are the results http://www.google.com/insights/search/#cat=&q=gardening&geo=&date=&clp=&cmpt=q

Drop by this new search page and have fun.

August Gardening To Do List

August is the peak of the heat in Austin. Despite higher water bills remember: Water is best summer fertilizer. It's your key to successful gardening. Soak frequently, thoroughly, and deeply.

1. Make a second application of chinch bug control early this month, if needed.

2. Plant pansy and calendula seed for fall and winter color.

3. This is the ideal time to begin planting that fall veritable garden.

4. Start a new compost pile and be ready to collect the leaves as they drop this fall. Be certain to keep moist to speed up decomposition.

5. Plan now for major landscape changes you may need.

July's Gardening To Do List

1. Water lawns and garden when needed giving a thorough soaking rather than frequent light sprinklings.

2. Fertilize lawn at the same rate suggested in May. Be sure soil is moist before applying then water in well after applying.

3. Check plants for mulch. Replace as needed

4. Keep a close check on recently planted landscape plants. Inadequate root system and drought can be damaging.

5. Watch for and apply early control for summer insects and disease to privent a build up of spread.

6. Check Azaleas and Camellias for iron chrlorosis (pale green leaves, darker green veins). If necessary, use copperas or iron chelate to correct iron deficiency.

7. Sow seeds of the following annuals for fall flower: Marigold, Zinnia, Periwinkle, Petunia, Cosmos, Portulaca, Ageratum.

8. Make the last pinch on early blooming mums by mid-July. Those blooming late in the fall can be given one additional pinch the last of the month. Keep them well watered.

9. Check your lawn mower. With hot weather here, you may want to raise the mower blade to the highest setting.

10.Check junipers and marigolds for red spider mite. The brown, discolored foliage may be due to mite damage. Hold a sheet of white paper below a branch and tap the branch sharply. If the dirt specks start to move, you can be almost certain you have spider mite.

11. To keep hanging baskets looking attractive, soak the baskets in a tub of water every few days in addition to the regular daily watering. This is also a good time to fertilize baskets but never apply fertilizer to dry plants.

12. Divide spring and early summer perennial including daffodils, daylilies, iris, etc., and replant the best clumps. Discard the diseased or damage material, and share any surplus with friends.

13. Low areas in the lawn may be gradually filled with shallow applications of good top soil where needed. Avoid temptation to apply a layer of sandy loam over the entire lawn area just because your neighbor does.

14. Plant spider lilies and fall crocus

15. Seed tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, cauliflower, okra, cabbage and brocolli for fall garden.