What to do with Leaves?

• “Leave” them alone leaf management• Do not bag, just mulch them

• On the lawn area use lawn mower• Remove debris before mowing• Purdue Uni. Tested 4,000 lbs of crushed leaves per acre in a single

application

• Do not rake leaves from garden beds, just add mulch over these leaves• http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/turf/430-521/430-521.html

Mowing Leaves

Do Not Rake Leaves

Fall Lawn Care

• Turf grass adaptation zones in the US• Cool season grass growth patterns• Fall - Best time to fertilize• Lawn Care Sequence

– Add compost• Spread a thin layer of compost or worm castings• Or spray compost tea

– Spread fertilizer– If needed, aerate soil – de-thatch or core aerate– Water

Lawn Adaptation Zones in US

Fall Lawn Care

• Local Compost Sources– Directory of Compost Suppliers (on web site )

– www.loudouncomposting.com– www.menv.com– www.pogoorganics.com

• Or use activated compost tea– American Plant Nursery

Lawn Weed Control

• Indicator Plants– Moss – moist soil, shade, and acidic soil– Chickweed, ground ivy, and violets tolerate areas too shady for grass

growth– Heal-all and horsetail are common indicators of poor drainage and

poor aeration– Pussy-toes and yarrow indicate the soil is too dry and has low fertility– Without the heavy shade, nutsedge (a grass-like plant but with

triangular stem) indicates a high moisture level– Red sorrel, indicates very acidic soil as well as dry soil with low fertility– At moderate moisture levels, very infertile and acidic soils are

indicated by orange hawkweed and oxeye daisy– Clover – lawn grass cycles

Lawn Weed Control

• Best weed control method for a lawn is to keep the grass healthy

• Fertilizing – Sept – Nov 1 lb of N per 1000 sq feet– Lawn growth lawn-leaf (Apr – Jul) vs. roots (Aug –

Nov)• Corn gluten for weed control• Mustard seed meal – new and as effective as corn

gluten

Bulbs

Good time to plant spring blooming bulbs• Plant bulbs in the fall starting when nighttime

temperatures stay between 40-50°F Plant to correct depth

– Plant two to three times as deep as the bulb is tall

Planning New Garden

• Prepare beds– No dig method– Traditional method (after the rains when soil does not stick to boots)– If you dig try use compost tea after digging

• Add leaves and other organic matter and turn soil over

• This is the time of year to find people with horses

Moving Plants

• Fall is the best time to move plants root growth continues but no energy goes into leaf production

• Try to get as much of the roots as you can– 10 inch diameter of root ball for every inch of stem

• Prune back a little after planting• Water

Pruning

• Always prune with disinfected tools. • Remove dead and diseased stems. • Prune flowering shrubs soon after flowering• Summer flowering shrubs that bloom after June –

prune back in early spring• Cut older stems back to the base• In general try to retain the natural form of the plant• If maintaining an hedge, keep the base wider than

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