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Landscaping Tips for October
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Summer has ended once again, but your landscape will benefit from some late season care and winter preparations.
Check new plants for watering every 10-14 days until the ground freezes, if there is al least 1" of rain, new plantings should be alright. If it is a drier fall, make sure to water your plants thoroughly. At this time of the year, prune out only deadwood on plants. Rake up and remove leaves where insect and disease problems have occurred. Protect the trunks of young trees from rodents with plastic tree spirals and always remember to remove them in spring to ensure healthy tree growth.
  
Although deciduous shrubs and shade trees can be planted up until the ground freezes, we recommend mid-October to be the cutoff date for planting evergreens. The goal is to allow enough time for evergreens to root out into the existing soil before winter arrives. Weather doesn't always follow calendar dates, but favoring on the side of caution is better than removing a dead evergreen next year.
 Rake, chop and compost fallen leaves from your lawn beacuase fall is the perfect time to incorporate soil amendments in planting beds. Top-dressing with organic matter can be done after autumn clean up.
Deer are an increasing problem in our landscapes. A method that has been found to be successful is the use of black plastic netting (the type used to protect blueberries or cherries from birds). Cover susceptible evergreen plants, such as Yew, Arborvitae or Rhododendrons. Make sure to secure the edges of the netting to the ground and to the plant itself. Rutting deer can often damage the trunks of young trees by rubbing the velvet from their antlers on them. Protect new trees up to 3" diameter from deer with either 4" diameter corrugated drain tile (split on one side), or plastic-spiral tree protectors in early October. Both must be removed in spring to ensure proper tree health.
 Plant spring bulbs now. The general rule is to plant twice the depth of the bulb in the soil. Bulbs should be slightly deeper on sandy soils. Make sure to plant the root end down. If you have high rabbit or squirrel populations, consider using more daffodils than tulips or crocus as daffodils are poisonous and will not be eaten or dug up. Extend your perennial interest by planting clumps of bulbs between late spring, summer or fall blooming perennials.
This is one of the best times to fertilize woody plants. If done now, it will not stimulate new growth until next spring. One less thing to do!
For your lawn, consider applying a "winterizing" fertilizer at the end of October. Fall fertilization gives turfgrass the strength it needs to withstand cold Wisconsin winters. In spring, it results in a greener, thicker lawn with greater ability to choke out weeds and deny bare spots for crabgrass to germinate.
Examine your yard for fall interest. If you find it lacking, consider planting Common Witchhazel whose spider-like yellow flowers are seen now. Many ornamental grasses also shine at this time of year, along with Autumn Joy Sedum, Asters, and Sweet Autumn Clematis.
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Pruning Services
Johnson's Nursery offers a wide variety of pruning and arborist services for trees, shrubs and evergreens.
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