Plants to Plant In Fall for Spring Rewards

The fall season here in my Zone 6 garden in SW Ohio has been beautiful.  Sufficient rainfall, and extremely mild temperatures have blessed us for several weeks.   It was because of this wonderful weather, that I had to do a double take when I realized that calendar had moved ahead and now I have to hustle to get some fall chores done.

One chore is to select and plant spring flowering bulbs.  Tulips, Hyacinths, Daffodils, and Crocus had completely slipped my mind.  So, getting a good selection of bulbs is timely.  The longer the bulbs sit at the garden center, the more dried out and moldy they can become.

bulb planter

Select firm bulbs. If they are mushy, the bulb will struggle to get established and may rot over winter.  The ideal time to plant spring flowering bulbs is October until the ground freezes.  I have successfully planted daffodil bulbs in December in my garden. I rarely endure a spring bonanza of color without regretting that I did not plant more bulbs in the fall. 

Soil depths of bulbs depends on the diameter of the bulb.  Large tulip and daffodil bulbs need to be 6” – to 8” deep.  Where smaller crocus or muscari bulbs (grape hyacinths)  need to be planted about 2 times (2x) the bulb’s diameter.


Bulbs can be used in containers also.  They need the same depth as if it was going into the ground.  Layering the bulbs will give an extended bloom time for the different bulbs.  This bouquet is lovely at a doorway or on a patio.

The small secondary, or minor bulbs and corms need a place in the garden too.  Tuck into the beds around other established plants small bulbs or corms like Anemone, Scilla, Glory in the Snow, or Snowdrops.

Anemone

Scilla

Glory in the Snow

Snow Drops

Since these blooms appear in the early spring, the sun/shade factor is of minimal concern, because the deciduous trees and shrubs will not have a full canopy of leaves to shade the planting areas.

Eranthis hyemalis, or Winter Aconite, appears in the woodland garden in late winter.  bulbs are available from on-line merchants like Amazon (here) and garden centers now for fall planting.

Winter Aconite

The late winter garden is brought to life with the early blooming Witch Hazel.  The dozens of varieties are available as shrub or small trees. Fall planting of Witch Hazel is going to get the plant established before the ground freezes.   This is truly wonderful promise of spring to come.




Hellebores can also be planted in October.  The garden under deciduous trees is idea, as Hellebores like the winter sun, and summer shade.  Soil should be amended with organic matter. Plant away from soggy, low areas.
These Hellebores are in containers.  This elevates them somewhat so the low, downward blooms are easily enjoyed.

 
Whether planting bulbs, shrubs, or perennials, October is the time to focus on Spring. Don't let spring next year be a time when you shake your head in a 'Would-a, Could-a, Should-a' moment'.

(Amazon pays me a small commission for online purchases.  Thanks for shopping with me).

Pests in the Garden–My Garden Woes

Usually I  identify bugs or diseases that may plague gardens at one time or another.  But this summer has been particularly troublesome to me in my garden. 

This simple container has a simple Hosta in it.  And due to the lack of  rain we had during July and August, I decided that I could hand water this border fairly easily.  Actually, I love to hand water – no sarcasm intended. Being outdoors – no TV, no noisy washing machine, and no cooking – is my idea of heaven.  That is until………….


I watered the container.  At first just a few yellow jackets appeared, then they must have called out the Calvary!  An no, I did not stop to take pictures.

Never dreamed that many would nest in a container like that?

So hubby found some insecticide powder – Sevin® – and got a duster from the shed, and after two days and pounds of powder, we finally felt we could walk into the back yard without getting attacked!

Japanese Beetles and Cicadas did their annual visit to the garden as well. 


Neither of these flying creatures will hurt fingers or arms, but I just can’t get past the bbbzzzzzz, as they fly around my head.  I have been know to flail about the yard like a crazy woman – but that is another story.
 
The cicada killer wasp was the next pest that swarmed our yard.  They hovered around the grass by the dozens.



And I must say, I made very few walks around the yard for the month or so they were present. The cicada killer wasp is very intimidating.  It has large jaws, and the females have stingers.



After she stings the cicada, the killer wasp will deposit the cicada into an intricate structure of tunnels with chambers.  The cicada that is immobilized is dragged into a chamber and the female killer wasp will deposit an egg into the penetrated shell she made with her stinger.  The cicada – still alive – remains in the chamber until the egg hatches.  Then the grub will eat off of the cicada, until it emerges from the chamber.  The grub eventually creates a cocoon and develops into a cicada killer wasp.


Oh, but my pest encounters were not over! 


Ant hills 18 inches high and 2 feet wide were the scene of, once again, some major applications of insecticides.  I believe the hills are ruined, but the colony moved into the back border, and into several containers too.  At this point, the ants have won the battle, but I’m not conceding the war!

Lastly, and I certainly hope it is the last pest we have to deal with, is a mole.  If you followed my garden renovation last season, you will know that we spent quite a lot of time, grading the area, and sowing grass seed.  I must say, I was really happy with the results.



We first noticed the raised tunnels in this bed.  We got Mole Repellant we sprayed onto the garden.  Now, we have tunnels in the new lawn. Moles eat worms, so here is another – ‘if you build it, (a healthy organic lawn) they – the worms and the moles – will come.”




We move the trap, seen here, every day.  And every day we find new tunnels and mounds of dirt.  The spring-hinged prongs are supposed to push into the tunnels as the lil’critter passes under it.

Hubby is becoming another Chevy Chase of Caddy Shack fame. Every day he is out there setting his traps, and stomping the ground down. (As if the mole cares!)  So this saga is continuing, and I’m rather enjoying watching these scenes play out.


I have to keep joking about such pests, for to not do so may drive me out of the garden for good.  I have to share and play well with others. Hopefully, we can come to a resolution that will benefit the pests and my garden.